The effects of multiwalled carbon nanotubes on the hot-pressed 3 mol% yttria stabilized zirconia ceramics

The bulk composites of 3 mol% yttria stabilized zirconia ceramics reinforced by multiwalled carbon nanotubes were prepared by ball milling, spray-drying and hot-pressing processes. The effects of MWCNTs’ contents and heterocoagulation pretreatment on the mechanical properties of 3Y–ZrO2/MWCNTs’ composites were investigated at room temperature. Experimental results showed that the heterocoagulation pretreatment played a vital role in homogeneous dispersion of MWCNTs in the ceramic matrix. The flexural strength of 989.8 ± 20.0 MPa and fracture toughness of 5.77 ± 0.06 MPa M1/2 were obtained for the composite with 1.0 wt.% of MWCNTs’ content, which were 135.3 MPa (or 8.4%) higher in flexural strength and 0.92 MPa M1/2 (or 21.1%) higher in fracture toughness than those of blank 3Y–ZrO2, respectively. The mechanisms of strengthening and toughening of the composites could be attributed to the synergic effects of bridging, pulling out of MWCNTs and their promotive effects on the phase transformation of the ceramics.