Fabrication of Al₂O₃/BN Nanocomposites by Chemical Processing and Their Mechanical Properties

Al₂O₃/BN nanocomposites were fabricated through a novel chemical route involving hot-pressing of α–Al₂O₃powders covered partly with turbostratic BN (t-BN). The nano-sized hexagonal BN (h-BN) particles were found to be homogeneously dispersed within the Al₂O₃grains as well as at grain boundaries, which is indicative of nanocomposite structures. Thus, the present nanocomposites exhibited the unique properties of high strength and low Young’s modulus associated with nanocomposites. This paper discusses in detail the synthesis process and microstructural features of these materials.