Creep-resistant composites of alumina and single-wall carbon nanotubes

Composites of alumina Al2O3 ceramic and single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have been tested in uniaxial compression at 1300 and 1350 °C (Ar atmosphere), and they have been found to be about two orders of magnitude more creep-resistant compared to a pure alumina of about the same grain size (0.5 micras). This is attributed to partial blocking of grain-boundary sliding by SWNTs in the composites. Since the grain boundaries in the ceramic/SWNTs composites are amenable to being engineered, this constitutes an attractive approach to the design of creep-resistant ceramic composites.