Provided is a metal matrix nanocomposite comprising: (a) a metal or metal alloy as a matrix material; and (b) multiple graphene sheets that are dispersed in said matrix material, wherein said multiple graphene sheets are substantially aligned to be parallel to one another and are in an amount from 0.1% to 95% by volume based on the total nanocomposite volume; wherein the multiple graphene sheets contain single-layer or few-layer graphene sheets selected from pristine graphene, graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, graphene fluoride, graphene chloride, graphene bromide, graphene iodide, hydrogenated graphene, nitrogenated graphene, doped graphene, chemically functionalized graphene, or a combination thereof and wherein the chemically functionalized graphene is not graphene oxide. The metal matrix exhibits a combination of exceptional tensile strength, modulus, thermal conductivity, and/or electrical conductivity.

Disclosed are a method of manufacturing an aluminum-based clad heat sink, and an aluminum-based clad heat sink manufactured by the method. The method includes ball-milling (i) aluminum or aluminum alloy powder and (ii) carbon nanotubes (CNT) to prepare a composite powder, preparing a multi-layered billet using the composite billet, and directly extruding the multi-layered billet using an extrusion die to produce a heat sink. The method has an advantage of producing a light high-strength high-conductivity aluminum-based clad heat sink having an competitive advantage in terms of price by using direct extrusion that is suitable for mass production due to its simplicity in process procedure and equipment required.

Disclosed are a method of manufacturing an aluminum-based clad heat sink, and an aluminum-based clad heat sink manufactured by the method. The method includes ball-milling (i) aluminum or aluminum alloy powder and (ii) carbon nanotubes (CNT) to prepare a composite powder, preparing a multi-layered billet using the composite billet, and directly extruding the multi-layered billet using an extrusion die to produce a heat sink. The method has an advantage of producing a light high-strength high-conductivity aluminum-based clad heat sink having an competitive advantage in terms of price by using direct extrusion that is suitable for mass production due to its simplicity in process procedure and equipment required.

A low carbon footprint material is used to decrease the carbon dioxide emission for production of a high carbon footprint substance. A method of forming composite materials comprises providing a first high carbon footprint substance; providing a carbon nanomaterial produced with a carbon-footprint of less than 10 unit weight of carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) emission during production of 1 unit weight of the carbon nanomaterial; and forming a composite comprising the high carbon footprint substance and from 0.001 wt % to 25 wt % of the carbon nanomaterial, wherein the carbon nanomaterial is homogeneously dispersed in the composite to reduce the carbon dioxide emission for producing the composite material relative to the high carbon footprint substance.

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.

Elongated, ultra-high conductivity electrical conductors for use in advanced electronic components and vehicles, and methods for producing the same, are disclosed herein. The elongated electrical conductors include a conductor body that defines a longitudinal axis. The conductor body includes an isotropically conductive matrix material and a plurality of anisotropically conductive particles interspersed within the isotropically conductive matrix material. Each anisotropically conductive particle defines a respective axis of enhanced electrical conductivity that is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the conductor body. The methods include providing a bulk matrix-particle composite that includes the isotropically conductive matrix material and the plurality of anisotropically conductive particles. The methods further include forming the bulk matrix-particle composite into an elongated electrical conductor and aligning the plurality of anisotropically conductive particles such that the respective axis of enhanced electrical conductivity thereof is at least substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the elongated electrical conductor.

There are provided methods and systems for creating multi-phase covetics. For example, there is provided a process for making a composite material. The process includes forming a multi-phase covetic. The forming includes heating a melt including a metal in a molten state and a carbon source to a first temperature threshold to form metal-carbon bonds. The forming further includes subsequently heating the melt to a second temperature threshold, the second temperature threshold being greater than the first temperature threshold. The second temperature threshold is a temperature at or above which ordered multi-phase covetics form in the melt.

An aluminum-based composite material includes an aluminum parent phase, and stick-shaped or needle-shaped dispersive matter of aluminum carbide dispersed in the aluminum parent phase. A method of manufacturing the aluminum-based composite material includes a step of mixing aluminum powder having a purity of 99% by mass or higher with a stick-shaped or needle-shaped carbon material, and pressing and molding a resulting mixture, so as to prepare a compacted powder body. The manufacturing method further includes a step of heating the compacted powder body at 600C to 660C to react the carbon material with aluminum in the aluminum powder, so as to disperse the stick-shaped or needle-shaped dispersive matter of aluminum carbide in the aluminum parent phase.

An aluminum-based composite material includes an aluminum parent phase, and stick-shaped or needle-shaped dispersive matter of aluminum carbide dispersed in the aluminum parent phase. A method of manufacturing the aluminum-based composite material includes a step of mixing aluminum powder having a purity of 99% by mass or higher with a stick-shaped or needle-shaped carbon material, and pressing and molding a resulting mixture, so as to prepare a compacted powder body. The manufacturing method further includes a step of heating the compacted powder body at 600C to 660C to react the carbon material with aluminum in the aluminum powder, so as to disperse the stick-shaped or needle-shaped dispersive matter of aluminum carbide in the aluminum parent phase.