Densification during hot-pressing of carbon nanotube–metal–magnesium aluminate spinel nanocomposites

The densification by hot-pressing of ceramic–matrix composites containing a dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNT), mostly single-walled, is studied for the first time. Fifteen different CNT–Co/Mo–MgAl2O4 composite powders containing between 1.2 and 16.7vol.% CNT were prepared by catalytic chemical vapour deposition. The in situ growth of CNT within the oxide powder made it possible to obtain a highly homogeneous distribution of CNT. Low contents …