Mechanical Enhancements of Electrospun Silica Microfibers with Boron Nitride Nanotubes

We investigate the mechanical properties of electrospun boron nitride nanotube (BNNT)-reinforced silica nanocomposite microfibers. The incorporation of small amounts of BNNTs (0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 wt.%) into silica results in significant enhancements in the bulk mechanical performance, including up to a 26.4% increase in Young's modulus, a 19.4% increase in tensile strength, and a 12.8% increase in toughness. These improvements are attributed to the excellent nanotube alignment achieved via electrospinning and the effective transfer of interfacial loads at the BNNT-silica interface. Micromechanical analysis based on in situ Raman measurements reveals that the maximum interfacial shear stress in the electrospun BNNT-silica microfiber reaches about 341 MPa. This study provides new insights into the process-structure-property relationship and reinforcement mechanisms in nanotube-reinforced ceramic nanocomposites, thereby advancing the development of lightweight, strong, tough, and durable ceramic materials.