Carbon nanotube reinforced ceramic composites and their performance

Carbon nanotubes are considered as excellent reinforcements for improving the properties of ceramic composites. This paper reviews the reported techniques for the preparation of various ceramic coated CNTs, CNT-ceramic composites, CNT-ceramic composite coatings, etc. It is noted that a wide range of techniques have been used to fabricate these composites. Their characterisation has revealed that considerable improvements in electrical/thermal properties can be achieved, but only a few studies have demonstrated significant improvements in macro-scale mechanical properties of ceramics such as fracture toughness.