This work outlines the remarkably enhanced creep resistance of single-walled carbon-nanotubes-reinforced alumina polycrystals. When tested at similar conditions of stress and temperature, the strain rate of such material is two orders of magnitude lower than that reported in non-reinforced alumina polycrystals. The sample processing technique is carefully described as well as the microstructural characterization of the sintered specimens. Particular emphasis is focused on the homogeneity of the nanotubes distribution onto the ceramic grain boundaries. Furthermore, it was verified that nanotubes have not lost their single-walled character either during sintering or during mechanical testing.

The results are compared with those found in literature for rare earth-doped alumina solid solutions. The role of a non-homogeneous distribution of nanotubes is also discussed.

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1. On cation segregation to the grain boundaries and creep response in zirconia-based ceramics