Disclosed herein is a composite co-fiber comprising a plurality of ceramic tows; one or more sacrificial yarns; where the sacrificial yarns are operative to undergo dissolution, decomposition or melting upon being subjected to an elevated temperature; and wherein the sacrificial yarns leave open spaces in the co-fiber upon being subjected to decomposition, dissolution or melting.

Provided is a method for processing and manufacturing a metal structural material by knitting metal wires into metal screen mesh strips, tightly coiling the metal screen mesh strips to form a coiled blank body which is coated layer-by-layer and in which an outer-layer material tightly covers an inner-layer material; sintering the coiled blank body; reducing gaps within the coiled blank body material by plastic processing, to reach a porosity that fulfills requirements, and manufacturing mechanical structural parts.

A method for forming an electrical connection to a microscale electrically conductive fibre material electrode element, such as a carbon fibre electrode element of a Pb-acid battery, comprises pressure impregnating into the fibre material an electrically conductive lug material, such as molten Pb metal, to surround and/or penetrate fibres and form an electrical connection to the fibre material and provide a lug for external connection of the electrode element. Other methods of forming a lug for external connection are also disclosed.

A process for making a composite product comprises the steps of: A. Circumferentially plating a carbon fiber core with an alloy film including a film of high entropy alloy and liquid metal alloy or a film of metallic glass to form a film-clad carbon fiber thread; B. Weaving a plurality of said film-clad carbon fiber threads to form an interlaced film-clad carbon fiber sheet; and C. Vibrationally thermally pressing a plurality of said interlaced film-clad carbon fiber sheets as superimposed with one another to form a composite product.

A ceramic matrix composite (CMC) is formed using a three-dimensional (3-D) woven preform by removing the set of sacrificial fibers from the 3-D woven preform and allowing a metal or metal alloy infiltrate the 3-D woven preform. The 3-D woven preform is formed by a method that includes providing a woven layer comprising a first set of ceramic fibers oriented in a first (x) direction woven with a second set of ceramic fibers oriented in a second (y) direction; stacking a plurality of woven layers on top of each other, said woven layers providing a two-dimensional (2-D) preform; weaving a set of sacrificial fibers in a third (z) direction with the 2-D preform, said weaving providing the 3-D woven preform; and shaping the 3-D woven preform into a predetermined shape.

A method for forming an electrical connection to a microscale electrically conductive fiber material electrode element, such as a carbon fiber electrode element of a Pb-acid battery, comprises pressure impregnating into the fiber material an electrically conductive lug material, such as molten Pb metal, to surround and/or penetrate fibers and form an electrical connection to the fiber material and provide a lug for external connection of the electrode element. Other methods of forming a lug for external connection are also disclosed.

A method of fabricating an impregnated fiber assembly, the method including introducing a first suspension including a first powder of solid particles into an inside volume defined by an inside face of a first fiber texture of hollow shape placed in a mold, an outer face of the first fiber texture being present facing a wall of the mold; using a centrifugal force to impregnate the first fiber texture with the first suspension by rotating the mold; after impregnating the first texture, positioning a second fiber texture on the inside face of the first fiber texture to obtain a fiber assembly; introducing a second suspension including a second powder of solid particles into the inside volume after putting the second fiber texture into position; and using a centrifugal force to impregnate the second fiber texture with the second suspension by rotating the mold to obtain an impregnated fiber assembly.

A method and apparatus for uniformly and directionally aligning and stretching nanofibers inside a porous medium is described. The nanofibers may include nanotubes, nanowires, long-chain polymer molecules or likewise. Porous medium may include a porous layer, fabric, or composite prepreg or likewise. According to one embodiment, an apparatus for directional alignment of nanofiber in a porous medium includes a fluid matrix with nanofibers. A porous medium is provided as well as a device for forcing the fluid matrix radially through the porous medium.

A method of forming a metal matrix composite component includes positioning a preform including an electrically non-conductive fibrous material in a shaping tool. The fibrous material is pre-coated. The method includes flowing a molten metal comprising zinc into the shaping tool so that at least a portion of the preform is enveloped by the molten metal to form the metal matrix composite component; and cooling the metal matrix composite component.