A Ahmadi - Materials research school, nuclear science and technology research institute, P.O.Box:۸۱۴۶۵-۱۵۸۹, Isfahan, Iran
A.A Youzbashi - Materials and Energy Research Centre, , P.O. Box:۳۱۸۷۸-۳۱۶, karaj, Iran
A Nozad - Materials research school, nuclear science and technology research institute, P.O.Box:۸۱۴۶۵-۱۵۸۹, Isfahan, Iran
T Ebadzadeh - Materials and Energy Research Centre, , P.O. Box:۳۱۸۷۸-۳۱۶, karaj, Iran
A Maghsoudipour - Materials and Energy Research Centre, , P.O. Box:۳۱۸۷۸-۳۱۶, karaj, Iran

Reinforcing the ceramics based on zirconia by carbon nanotubes is under widespread investigation,due to their specific applications. Since the development of nanotechnology, methods based onsolution chemistry routes have proved to be promising in tuning of the structural characteristics ofadvanced materials. In the present research work,Tetragonal zirconia–carbon nanotube compositewas synthesized by alkoxide precursor sol-gel method. The the synthesized nanocompositepowders and finally fabricated composites were characterized by XRD, SEM and TEM analyticaltechniques. Sintered nanocomposite samples with ۰.۵, ۱ and ۲ wt-% MWCNT fabricated by Sparkplasma sintering (SPS) process at temperature of ۱۴۰۰°C and their density, hardness and fracturetoughness values were measured. The results showed that the density and hardness deceased withaddition of MWCNTs whereas; the fracture toughness increased ۲۴% in the nanocompositecontaining ۰.۵ wt-% MWCNTs as compared to pure tetragonal zirconia. The fractography studiesindicated the toughening mechanism of pull out and crack bridging.

Sol gel, Zirconia, Carbon nanotube, Spark plasma sintering.