Methods for preparing a layered metal nanocomposite and a layered metal nanocomposite. The method includes mixing a magnesium salt and a aluminum salt to form a Mg.sup.2+/Al.sup.3+ solution. The Mg/Al has a molar ratio of between 0.5:1 to 6:1. Then a diamondoid compound is added to the Mg.sup.2+/Al.sup.3+ solution to form a reactant mixture. The diamondoid compound has at least one carboxylic acid moiety. The reactant mixture is heated at a reaction temperature for a reaction time to form a Mg/Al-diamondoid intercalated layered double hydroxide. The Mg/Al-diamondoid intercalated layered double hydroxide is thermally decomposed under a reducing atmosphere for a decomposition time at a decomposition temperature to form the layered metal nanocomposite.

A method to form a metal matrix composite reinforced with eggshell (ES). The method includes preparing an ES powder, blending and milling the ES powder with at least one metal powder selected from the group consisting of magnesium (Mg), zirconium (Zr) to form a powder mixture, compacting and sintering the powder mixture to form the metal matrix composite. In addition, a MgZr-ES metal matrix composite with improved corrosion resistance, having an amount of magnesium from 95 to 97 wt. %, an amount of zirconium from 1 to 2 wt. %, and an amount of ES from 1 to 4 wt. %, may be used for biomedical applications.

Some variations provide a system for producing a functionalized powder, comprising: an agitated pressure vessel; first particles and second particles contained within the agitated pressure vessel; a fluid contained within the agitated pressure vessel; an exhaust line for releasing the fluid from the agitated pressure vessel; and a means for recovering a functionalized powder containing the second particles disposed onto surfaces of the first particles. A preferred fluid is carbon dioxide in liquefied or supercritical form. The carbon dioxide may be initially loaded into the pressure vessel as solid carbon dioxide. The pressure vessel may be batch or continuous and is operated under reaction conditions to functionalize the first particles with the second particles, thereby producing a functionalized powder, such as nanofunctionalized metal particles in which nanoparticles act as grain refiners for a component ultimately produced from the nanofunctionalized metal particles. Methods for making the functionalized powder are also disclosed.

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to the production of bulk amorphous metal (BAM) alloys comprising chromium, manganese, molybdenum, tungsten, silicon, carbon, boron, and the balance of iron to replace tungsten carbide-based welded material. The BAM alloy embodied herein can be applied through PTA welding, HVOF, TWAS, flame spraying, plasma spraying, laser, their combinations, and other coating and welding processes. When used as welded material, the density of the embodiment of around 7 grams per CC, which is less dense than the tungsten carbide customarily used, resulting in even hard faces during welding spread uniformly across the weld, therefore creating a harder and more wear-resistant weld.

A composite material comprising a metal matrix and nanocellulose supplement. The metal matrix is formed of a metal base material and may be monolithic throughout the composite material. The nanocellulose supplement improves a material property of the metal matrix and is formed of a nanocellulose supplement material dispersed in the metal base material. Importantly, the nanocellulose supplement material does not become damaged when the composite material is formed.

Disclosed herein is a method of homogeneously mixing solids, comprising: mixing, in a fluid medium, at least a first Got nanoparticle material and a surfactant, wherein the surfactant causes the first nanoparticle material to distribute uniformly in the fluid medium and have a specific charge; adding, to the fluid medium, a second nanoparticle material, wherein the surfactant has a charge of opposite polarity to the zeta potential of the second nanoparticle material; attaching the second nanoparticle material to the first Nnanoparticle material using the charge attraction of the surfactant and the second nanoparticle material to obtain a homogeneous material; and removing the attached first and second nanoparticle materials from the fluid medium to obtain a solid homogeneous material.

Some variations provide a method of making an additively manufactured metal component, comprising: providing a feedstock that includes a high-vapor-pressure metal; exposing a first amount of the feedstock to an energy source for melting; and solidifying the melt layer, thereby generating a solid layer of an additively manufactured metal component. The metal-containing feedstock is enriched with a higher concentration of the high-vapor-pressure metal compared to its concentration in the additively manufactured metal component. The high-vapor-pressure metal may be selected from Mg, Zn, Li, Al, Cd, Hg, K, Na, Rb, Cs, Mn, Be, Ca, Sr, or Ba, for example. Additively manufactured metal components are provided. Metal-containing feedstocks for additive manufacturing are also disclosed, wherein concentration of at least one high-vapor-pressure metal in the feedstock is selected based on a desired concentration of the high-vapor-pressure metal in an additively manufactured metal component derived from the metal-containing feedstock. Various feedstock compositions are disclosed.

This application relates to a method of manufacturing a metal-polymer composite material having high thermal conductivity and electrical insulating properties. The method may include preparing a powder mixture comprising polymer powder and metal powder, and spark plasma sintering (SPS) the powder mixture to produce a composite material. This application also relates to a metal-polymer composite material having high thermal conductivity and electrical insulating properties, manufactured by the method.

Methods for preparing a layered metal nanocomposite and a layered metal nanocomposite. The method includes mixing a magnesium salt and a aluminum salt to form a Mg.sup.2+/Al.sup.3+ solution. The Mg/Al has a molar ratio of between 0.5:1 to 6:1. Then a diamondoid compound is added to the Mg.sup.2+/Al.sup.3+ solution to form a reactant mixture. The diamondoid compound has at least one carboxylic acid moiety. The reactant mixture is heated at a reaction temperature for a reaction time to form a Mg/Al-diamondoid intercalated layered double hydroxide. The Mg/Al-diamondoid intercalated layered double hydroxide is thermally decomposed under a reducing atmosphere for a decomposition time at a decomposition temperature to form the layered metal nanocomposite.

Method for manufacturing an aluminium alloy part by additive manufacturing comprising a step during which a layer of a mixture of powders is locally melted and then solidified, characterised in that the mixture of powders comprises: first particles comprising at least 80% by mass of aluminium and up to 20% by mass of one or more additional elements, and second yttria-stabilized zirconia particles, the mixture of powders comprising at least 1.5% by volume of second particles.