Influence of nanosized SiC particle on the fracture toughness of ZrB2-based nanocomposite ceramic

ZrB2-based nanocomposite ceramics, which were enforced by nanosized SiC particles with the sizes of 100 and 20 nm, respectively, were prepared by spark plasma sintering. Both mass fraction and size of the nanosized SiC particle have a great effect on the relative density and fracture toughness of this material. Densification and fracture toughness are greatly improved to 97.70% and 8.205 MPam1/2 by introducing 20 mass% and 5 mass% nanosized SiC with particle size of 20 nm, respectively. The nanosized SiC introduced, influencing crack path, decreases fracture toughness.