A method for making covetic metal-nanostructured carbon composites or compositions is described herein. This method is advantageous, in that it provides substantially oxygen-free covetic materials and allows precise control of the composition of the covetic material to be produced. The method comprises introducing carbon into a molten metal in a heated reactor under low oxygen partial pressure, while passing an electric current through the molten metal. The reactor is heated at a temperature sufficient to form a network of nanostructured carbon within a matrix of the metal. After heating the covetic material is recovered from the reactor.

A component for a gas turbine engine can be made via additive manufacturing. During the additive manufacturing process a powder can be used that comprises a superalloy material (12) and carbon nanostructures (14a, 14b). Components made using the powder can have preferred characteristics at certain locations through the use of the carbon nanostructure based additive manufacturing powder.

A component for a gas turbine engine can be made via additive manufacturing. During the additive manufacturing process a powder can be used that comprises a superalloy material (12) and carbon nanostructures (14a, 14b). Components made using the powder can have preferred characteristics at certain locations through the use of the carbon nanostructure based additive manufacturing powder.

The present invention relates to a method of semi-solid indirect squeeze casting for Mg-based composite material, which aims at improving the mechanical property of the cast by adding magnesium zinc yttrium quasicrystal of high hardness, high elastic modulus and excellent matrix binding property acting as the reinforcement into the magnesium alloy matrix and manufacturing the cast through smelting using a vacuum atmosphere smelting furnace, agitating with ultrasonic wave assisted vibration in the rotating impeller jet agitation furnace and indirect squeeze casting against the problem of poor wettability, easy agglomeration, inhomogeneous distribution between the reinforcement particles and the matrix materials and poor properties of the manufactured cast. The manufacturing method of the present invention has advanced technologies and detailed and accurate data. The cast has excellent microstructure compactness, no shrinkage cavities and shrinkage defects and the primary phase in the metallographic structure consists of spherical and near-spherical crystalline grains, wherein dendritic crystalline grains almost disappear and the size of the crystalline grain is obviously refined. The tensile strength of the Mg-based composite material cast reaches to 225 Mpa, the elongation rate thereof reaches to 6.5% and the hardness thereof reaches to 86 HV. So the manufacturing method of the present invention is an advanced semi-solid indirect squeeze casting method for the Mg-based composite material.

A castable, moldable, or extrudable magnesium-based alloy that includes one or more insoluble additives. The insoluble additives can be used to enhance the mechanical properties of the structure, such as ductility and/or tensile strength. The final structure can be enhanced by heat treatment, as well as deformation processing such as extrusion, forging, or rolling, to further improve the strength of the final structure as compared to the non-enhanced structure. The magnesium-based composite has improved thermal and mechanical properties by the modification of grain boundary properties through the addition of insoluble nanoparticles to the magnesium alloys. The magnesium-based composite can have a thermal conductivity that is greater than 180 W/m-K, and/or ductility exceeding 15-20% elongation to failure.

A castable, moldable, or extrudable magnesium-based alloy that includes one or more insoluble additives. The insoluble additives can be used to enhance the mechanical properties of the structure, such as ductility and/or tensile strength. The final structure can be enhanced by heat treatment, as well as deformation processing such as extrusion, forging, or rolling, to further improve the strength of the final structure as compared to the non-enhanced structure. The magnesium-based composite has improved thermal and mechanical properties by the modification of grain boundary properties through the addition of insoluble nanoparticles to the magnesium alloys. The magnesium-based composite can have a thermal conductivity that is greater than 180 W/m-K, and/or ductility exceeding 15-20% elongation to failure.

The present invention relates to a method of semi-solid indirect squeeze casting for Mg-based composite material, which aims at improving the mechanical property of the cast by adding magnesium zinc yttrium quasicrystal of high hardness, high elastic modulus and excellent matrix binding property acting as the reinforcement into the magnesium alloy matrix and manufacturing the cast through smelting using a vacuum atmosphere smelting furnace, agitating with ultrasonic wave assisted vibration in the rotating impeller jet agitation furnace and indirect squeeze casting against the problem of poor wettability, easy agglomeration, inhomogeneous distribution between the reinforcement particles and the matrix materials and poor properties of the manufactured cast. The manufacturing method of the present invention has advanced technologies and detailed and accurate data. The cast has excellent microstructure compactness, no shrinkage cavities and shrinkage defects and the primary phase in the metallographic structure consists of spherical and near-spherical crystalline grains, wherein dendritic crystalline grains almost disappear and the size of the crystalline grain is obviously refined. The tensile strength of the Mg-based composite material cast reaches to 225 Mpa, the elongation rate thereof reaches to 6.5% and the hardness thereof reaches to 86 HV. So the manufacturing method of the present invention is an advanced semi-solid indirect squeeze casting method for the Mg-based composite material.

Provided is aluminum (Al) alloy foam including an Al alloy matrix containing magnesium (Mg), and hollow ceramic spheres dispersed in the Al alloy matrix, wherein a reaction layer including a MgAl composite oxide is formed at an interface where the Al alloy matrix is in contact with the hollow ceramic spheres, and wherein a density of the Al alloy foam may be higher at a surface region of the Al alloy foam compared to a middle region of the Al alloy foam.

A method for making covetic metal-carbon composites or compositions by electron beam melt heating under vacuum (pressure <10.sup.3 Torr) is described herein. This fabrication method is advantageous, in that it provides oxygen-free covetic materials in a process that allows precise control of the composition of the covetic material to be produced. The method described herein also can be applied to produce multi-element-carbon composites within a metal or alloy matrix, including high melting temperature materials such as ceramic particles or prefabricated nano- or micro-structures, such as carbon nanotubes or graphene compounds. The covetic reaction between metal and carbon takes place under the influence of flowing electrons through the melted metal-carbon precursor. This process creates strong bonding between nanocarbon structure and the metal elements in the melt.

A method for making covetic metal-carbon composites or compositions by electron beam melt heating under vacuum (pressure <10.sup.3 Torr) is described herein. This fabrication method is advantageous, in that it provides oxygen-free covetic materials in a process that allows precise control of the composition of the covetic material to be produced. The method described herein also can be applied to produce multi-element-carbon composites within a metal or alloy matrix, including high melting temperature materials such as ceramic particles or prefabricated nano- or micro-structures, such as carbon nanotubes or graphene compounds. The covetic reaction between metal and carbon takes place under the influence of flowing electrons through the melted metal-carbon precursor. This process creates strong bonding between nanocarbon structure and the metal elements in the melt.