Bringing electrical conductivity to SiAlON ceramics by integrating zeolitic imidazolate framework‐derived nanocarbons

Abstract α/β‐Silicon aluminum oxynitride (SiAlON) ceramics reinforced with zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIF‐8) up to 20 wt% have been fabricated by spark plasma sintering to impart electrical conductivity without compromising the mechanical properties. The effect of ZIF‐8 addition on the phase evolution, densification behavior, microstructural development, mechanical properties, and electrical properties has been discussed through the results obtained by X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Raman analyses, sintering curves, microhardness tests, and electrical conductivity tests using the two‐probe and van der Pauw methods. ZIF‐8 transforms into carbon clusters and graphene platelets (GPs) during sintering. 10% ZIF‐8‐reinforced α/β‐SiAlON ceramics demonstrate high relative density, hardness, and fracture toughness (97.6%, 19.4 GPa, and 5.7 MPa m 1/2 ), which are comparable to those of pure SiAlONs. Furthermore, their high electrical conductivity (1.9 × 10 2 S m ‒1 ), brought by elongated GPs forming conductive paths, enables machinability by electrical discharge machining (EDM) and expands their potential applications, including use in igniters, glow plugs, and heaters.