Ceramic nanocomposites have been found to have improved hardness, strength, toughness and creep resistance compared to conventional ceramic matrix composites. Ceramic nanocomposites reviews the structure and properties of these nanocomposites as well as manufacturing and applications.Part one looks at the properties of different ceramic nanocomposites, including thermal shock resistance, flame retardancy, magnetic and optical properties as well as failure mechanisms. Part two deals with the different types of ceramic nanocomposites, including the use of ceramic particles in metal matrix composites, carbon nanotube-reinforced glass-ceramic matrix composites, high temperature superconducting ceramic nanocomposites and ceramic particle nanofluids. Part three details the processing of nanocomposites, including the mechanochemical synthesis of metallic–ceramic composite powders, sintering of ultrafine and nanosized ceramic and metallic particles and the surface treatment of carbon nanotubes using plasma technology. Part four explores the applications of ceramic nanocomposites in such areas as energy production and the biomedical field.With its distinguished editors and international team of expert contributors, Ceramic nanocomposites is a technical guide for professionals requiring knowledge of ceramic nanocomposites, and will also offer a deeper understanding of the subject for researchers and engineers within any field dealing with these materials. - Reviews the structure and properties of ceramic nanocomposites as well as their manufacturing and applications - Examines properties of different ceramic nanocomposites, as well as failure mechanisms - Details the processing of nanocomposites and explores the applications of ceramic nanocomposites in areas such as energy production and the biomedical field

This chapter discusses the performance behaviour of ceramic nanocomposites under conditions of thermal shock, i.e. when they are subjected to sudden changes in temperature during either heating or cooling or may be in flame propagating zones. For example, during emergency shut-downs of gas turbines, cool air is drawn from the still spinning compressor and driven through the hot sections: the temperature at the turbine outlet decreases by more than 800°C within one second and ceramic nanocomposite materials are an appropriate choice for such application. Furthermore, such a situation may arise about 100 times during the lifetime of a modern gas turbine engine. Similarly, in the nuclear industries, apart from the moderate shocks inflicted during start-up and shut-down of the system, the plasma-facing material can suffer rapid heating due to plasma discharge. Thus, when a body is subjected to a rapid temperature change such that non-linear temperature gradients appear, stresses arise due to the differential expansion of each volume element at a different temperature. The design principles for the fabrication of high-performance thermal shock resistant ceramic nanocomposites with improved mechanical properties are highlighted in this chapter. Moreover, the pertinent factors such as interface characteristics, densification methods, superplasticity and the role of nano-size particulate dispersion, which are responsible for the development of thermal shock resistant and flame retardant nanoceramic materials, are addressed and reviewed. Various test methods for the characterisation and evaluation of ceramic nanocomposites are described. Finally, the new concept of materials design for future structural ceramic nanocomposites is discussed for safe applications in high-temperature thermal shock zones.

Advances in Ceramic Matrix Composites, Second Edition, delivers an innovative approach to ceramic matrix composites, focusing on the latest advances and materials developments. As advanced ceramics and composite materials are increasingly utilized as components in batteries, fuel cells, sensors, high-temperature electronics, membranes and high-end biomedical devices, and in seals, valves, implants, and high-temperature and wear components, this book explores the substantial progress in new applications. Users will gain knowledge of the latest advances in CMCs, with an update on the role of ceramics in the fabrication of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells for energy generation, and on natural fiber-reinforced eco-friendly geopolymer and cement composites. The specialized information contained in this book will be highly valuable to researchers and graduate students in ceramic science, engineering and ceramic composites technology, and engineers and scientists in the aerospace, energy, building and construction, biomedical and automotive industries. - Provides detailed coverage of parts and processing, properties and applications - Includes new developments in the field, such as natural fiber-reinforced composites and the use of CMCs in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) - Presents state-of-the-art research, enabling the reader to understand the latest applications for CMCs

This chapter reviews the preparation and study of high-temperature superconducting (SC) nanocomposites based on SC ceramics and various polymeric binders. Regardless of the size of the ceramic grains, any increase in their quantity results in an increase of resistance to rupture and modulus and a decrease in limiting deformation, whilst a similar increase in the average ceramic grain size worsens resistance properties. Investigation of the SC, thermo-chemical, mechanical and dynamic-mechanical properties of the samples are discussed. Superconducting properties of the polymer–ceramic nanocomposites are explained by intercalation of macromolecule fragments into the interstitial layer of the ceramic grains, a phenomenon that leads to a change in the morphological structure of SC nanocomposites.

Nanoscale constituents in nanocomposites possess excellent optical properties that differ from the macroscale properties. This chapter focuses on the optical properties of nanoscale materials incorporated in glass and ceramics, especially transmittance, absorption, non-linearity and luminescence. The fluorescence property of carbon nanotube–glass composite is a new observation which has hitherto not been studied. All these properties make them a potential material for optical sensors, ultraviolet–infrared shielding windows and other biological applications.

This chapter first builds a basic understanding of structural failure and its determining critical factors. It describes typical fracture origins and modes of crack propagation. It then deals with the concept of reinforcing ceramic nanocomposites. Different strategies for preventing failures are discussed, and the influence of microstructure and secondary nanometric phases on friction and wear properties of some ceramic nanocomposites is described.

Bioceramics and bioceramic composites have been widely used for biomedical applications for the last 50 years. This chapter discusses the advantages of using ceramic nanocomposites. The application of both inert and bioactive ceramics for orthopaedic and dental implants, as well as in the novel field of tissue engineering, is discussed and future trends are presented.

In this chapter, glass and glass-ceramic matrix composites containing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are discussed with an emphasis on their production, properties, microstructures and applications. Composite manufacturing routes require both CNT/matrix powder preparation techniques and their densification by suitable sintering processes. Physical, mechanical, functional and technological properties of the composites are evaluated, including density, hardness, elastic modulus, fracture strength and toughness, electrical and thermal conductivity, wear and friction resistance, and thermal shock, cycling and ageing resistance. Microstructural features are typically characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Based on the characteristics obtained, potential applications of the composites are considered, together with a discussion of the unresolved manufacturing challenges and desirable, but still unattained, properties.

The chapter discusses several variants of mechanosyntheses for composite powder formation of metal alloy matrices with ceramic particles. The necessity of following progress in mechanochemical processes using different analytical methods is shown. Based on the results of experimental studies on Cu–Al/Al2O3 and Ni-Al/Al2O3 nanocomposite powder formation through mechanochemical synthesis, the method of transforming combustive processes to progressive ones by applying hydroxosalts instead of metal oxides as precursors of composites is described.

One of the most recent developments in ceramics has been the distribution of multiple phases in a ceramic composite at the nanoscopic length scale. An advanced nanocomposite microstructure such as that of polycrystalline silicon carbide (SiC)–silicon nitride (Si3N4) nanocomposites contains multiple length scales with grain boundary thickness of the order of 50nm, SiC particle sizes of the order of 200–300nm and Si3N4 grain sizes of the order of 0.8–1.5μm. Designing the microstructure of such a composite for a targeted set of material properties is, therefore, a daunting task. Since the microstructure involves multiple length scales, multiscale analyses based material design is an appropriate approach for such a task. With this view, this chapter presents an overview of the current state of the art and work performed in this area.