Enhancing the properties of yttria-stabilized zirconia composites with zeolitic imidazolate framework-derived nanocarbons

Abstract

Ceramicmatrixcomposites(CMCs)reinforcedwithnanocarbonhaveattractedsignificantinterestdue to theirpotentialto enhancemechanical,thermal,andelectricalproperties.Althoughthe investigationof carbon-basedmaterialssuchas grapheneandcarbonnanotubesas additivesfor advancedceramicshasbeenwidespread,theutilizationof metal−organicframework(MOF)-derivednanocarbonsin CMCsremainslargelyunexplored.We extendedour previousproof-of-conceptinvestigationsby demonstratingthe effectivenessofa differenttypeof MOF-derivedcarbonas a reinforcingphasein an alternativeceramicmatrix.We employedsparkplasmasintering(SPS)to consolidateyttria-stabilizedzirconia(YSZ)andzeoliticimidazolateframework(ZIF-67)powderblendsat 1300°C and a uniaxialpressureof 50 MPa.YSZservesas the ceramicmatrix,whereasZIF-67servesas the nanocarbonsource.Thecompositeexhibitsa highlysignificantimprovementin fracturetoughnesswithan increaseof up to13%comparedto thatof the YSZmonolith.Theformationof ZIF-derivednanocarboninterlayersis responsiblefor the observedenhancementin ductility,whichcan be attributedto theirabilityto facilitateenergydissipationduringcrackpropagationand inhibitgraingrowth.Furthermore,the room-temperatureelectricalconductivityof the sinteredsamplesdemonstratesa substantialimprovement,primarilydue to the in situ formationof nanocarbon-basedfillers,reachingan impressive27 S/mwith10 wt % ZIF-67content.Basedon the results,it can be inferredthatthe incorporationof in situ MOF-derivednanocarbonsintoCMCsleadsto asubstantialimprovementin boththe mechanicaland electricalproperties.