A three-dimensional (3D) metal object manufacturing apparatus is equipped with a solid graphite application device that forms graphite interfaces between support structures and portions of the metal object supported by the support structures. The graphite forming the graphite interfaces are applied to support structures by operating an actuator to move the graphite application to a surface of the support structure and move a graphite member within the device against the surface of the support structure.

A metal-graphene composite product in the form of a sliding contact of an electric power application, in which graphene flakes are dispersed in a matrix of the metal, as well as to a method for obtaining such a composite product.

The powder mixture for powder metallurgy includes a raw material powder, a binder, and a graphite powder, where the raw material powder contains an iron-based powder in a content of 90 mass % or more of the raw material powder, the graphite powder has an average particle size of less than 5 μm, a ratio in mass of the binder to the sum the raw material powder and the graphite powder is 0.10 mass % to 0.80 mass %, a ratio of mass of the graphite powder to the sum of mass of the raw material powder and mass of the graphite powder is 0.6 mass % to 1.0 mass %, surface of the raw material powder is covered with at least a part of the binder, and surface of the binder covering the surface of the raw material powder is covered with at least a part of the graphite powder.

Carbon fiber reinforced metal matrix composite turbine rotors include a planar carbon fiber structure encapsulated within a metal matrix formed of sintered metal nanoparticles. The metal nanoparticles can include a metal having a high sintering temperature that would ordinarily destroy the carbon fiber. Novel techniques for making small uniform nanoparticles for sintering lowers the sintering temperature to a level that can accommodate carbon fiber. The composite rotors possess high strength to weight ratio.

Carbon fiber reinforced steel matrix composites have carbon fiber impregnated in the steel matrix and chemically bonded to the steel. Chemical bonding is shown by the presence of a unique amorphous carbon layer at the carbon fiber/steel interface, and by canting of steel crystal edges adjacent to the interface. Methods for forming carbon fiber reinforce steel composites include sintering steel nanoparticles around a reinforcing carbon fiber structure, thereby chemically bonding a sintered steel matrix to the carbon fiber. This unique bonding likely contributes to enhanced strength of the composite, in comparison to metal matrix composites formed by other methods.

The present disclosure relates to a system for making an electrically conductive battery component. The system uses a metal layer forming a planar metal substrate, and a powder deposition component for applying a powder to form a powder layer on the planar metal substrate. A laser is used and configured to generate a laser beam to selectively sinter portions, or all, of the powder layer using a predetermined beam scanning pattern. A subsystem is used to remove portions of the powder layer that are not sintered by the laser to leave a planar finished material layer.

An electrically conductive composite powder is provided for microwave shielding applications. The electrically conductive composite powder includes a core of particles formed from a material having a low density of <5 g/cm.sup.3 and a high dielectric constant of ≥10; an intermediate layer coated onto the core of particles, wherein said intermediate layer has a high electrical conductivity of >5.90×10.sup.−8 Ohm*m at 20° C.; and an outer layer that is deposited onto the intermediate layer, said outer layer comprising a material having a high oxidation and corrosion resistance of >−0.2V galvanic potential in seawater as measured via ASTM G82. The electrically conductive composite powder exhibits excellent microwave shielding performance, while also being substantially lower in cost that conventional Ag/Ni shields. The electrically conductive composite powder can be used across a broad microwave frequency range.

A three-dimensional printing kit can include a binder fluid and a particulate build material. The particulate build material can include metal particles in an amount from about 95 wt % to about 99.995 wt % and carbon black particles in an amount from about 0.005 wt % to about 2 wt %, wherein weight percentages are based on a total weight of the particulate build material.

Novel date palm charcoal iron oxide nanocomposites (DPC-Fe.sub.3O.sub.4) are presented, as well as processes for making the same. These synthesized magnetic DPC-Fe.sub.3O.sub.4 nanocomposites have wide potential significant applications such as in energy storage devices, electronic devices, sensors, in drug delivery and medicine, catalytic application and also in water purification as an effective strong adsorbent.

The method for making carbon-coated copper nanoparticles is a simple, one-step for coating copper nanoparticles with a carbon shell to prevent rapid oxidation of the carbon nanoparticle core. The method involves heating or autoclaving thin sheets of copper hydroxide nitrate (Cu.sub.2(OH).sub.3NO.sub.3) under supercritical conditions (a temperature of 300° C. and a pressure of 120 bar) for two hours. The autoclaving may be performed in the presence of an inert gas, such as argon, which may be used to remove any remaining gases, and the pressure may be released in the presence of the inert gas so that the product may be collected in the presence of air.