Comparative Analysis of Mechanical Behaviour of CoFe₂O₄ and ZnO Nanocomposite

Zinc oxide (ZnO) and cobalt ferrite (CoFe₂O₄) are two technologically significant oxides with complementary mechanical and functional characteristics. ZnO provides high elasticity and semiconducting properties, whereas CoFe₂O₄ is magnetically resistant and mechanically rigid. The mechanical properties of CoFe₂O₄, ZnO, and their nanocomposite (CoFe₂O₄/ZnO) are compared in this work, including hardness, elastic modulus, tensile strength, and fracture features. We examine pertinent research, examining how phase distribution, interfaces, and microstructure affect mechanical performance. It is demonstrated that the composite has the potential to create a mechanically balanced and multipurpose nanomaterial by combining the flexibility of ZnO with the stiffness of CoFe₂O₄. We highlight important research needs, such as interface engineering, fatigue behavior, and multiscale mechanical characterisation, because there is a deficiency of experimental mechanical data for the composite.