At lower ZIF proportions in the composite, the sample's mechanical response is more dominated by the partially sintered inorganic glass rather than the combined response of both materials. This makes local brittle fracture more likely. At higher ZIF concentrations however, the softer material (ZIF) can contribute to better stress distribution within the pellet, as expected from soft matrices in composite materials. Some hysteresis is evident at lower applied stress in the composite, particularly in the [(ZIF-8)0.1(IG)0.9]. This would be consistent with a further microscopic densification in the pelletized sample, associated with local particle rearrangements according to the uniaxially applied stress. Above a particular maximum loading, the stress cannot be dissipated by rearrangement or stores as elastic energy, which induces crack formation within the pellet. From this point, further loading leads to gradually increased crack growth in each subsequent cycle.