EFFECTS OF BINARY OXIDE COATED MWCNTS TOWARD TAILORING THE MECHANICAL, THERMO-MECHANICAL, AND MICROSTRUCTURAL PROPERTIES OF PRESSURELESS SINTERED MgAl2O4 SPINEL CERAMIC COMPOSITE

Abstract

This study presents a performance evaluation of MgAl-binary oxide-coated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as a reinforcement phase in a magnesium aluminate spinel MgAl2O4 ceramic composite system fabricated using a pressureless sintering technique. The physical properties, including porosity, bulk density, and flexural strength of spinel composites were evaluated in the temperature range of 1500 – 1600 ?C. The results reveal the coated MWCNTs architecture's promising influence on the composite system's property enhancement. The developed thin-film coating on the MWCNTs favors enhanced dispersibility with better matrix-reinforcement interfacial connectivity, thereby improving the mechanical and thermo-mechanical performance of the composites.