A stirring device includes a stirring unit, a gas supplying unit, and a feeding unit. The stirring unit includes a drive mechanism and a shaft member. The shaft member includes a hollow rotary shaft coupled to be driven by the drive mechanism to rotate, and a stirring head coupled to rotate with the hollow rotary shaft. The gas supplying unit includes a gas supply, and a piping member fluidly communicating with the (gas supply and the shaft member. The feeding unit includes a storage tank and a feeding tube fluidly communicating with the storage tank and the shaft member.

A stirring device includes a stirring unit, a gas supplying unit, and a feeding unit. The stirring unit includes a drive mechanism and a shaft member. The shaft member includes a hollow rotary shaft coupled to be driven by the drive mechanism to rotate, and a stirring head coupled to rotate with the hollow rotary shaft. The gas supplying unit includes a gas supply, and a piping member fluidly communicating with the (gas supply and the shaft member. The feeding unit includes a storage tank and a feeding tube fluidly communicating with the storage tank and the shaft member.

A castable, moldable, and/or extrudable structure using a metallic primary alloy. One or more additives are added to the metallic primary alloy so that in situ galvanically-active reinforcement particles are formed in the melt or on cooling from the melt. The composite contains an optimal composition and morphology to achieve a specific galvanic corrosion rate in the entire composite. The in situ formed galvanically-active particles can be used to enhance mechanical properties of the composite, such as ductility and/or tensile strength. The final casting can also he enhanced by heat treatment, as well as deformation processing such as extrusion, forging, or rolling, to further improve the strength of the final composite over the as-cast material.

A castable, moldable, and/or extrudable structure using a metallic primary alloy. One or more additives are added to the metallic primary alloy so that in situ galvanically-active reinforcement particles are formed in the melt or on cooling from the melt. The composite contains an optimal composition and morphology to achieve a specific galvanic corrosion rate in the entire composite. The in situ formed galvanically-active particles can be used to enhance mechanical properties of the composite, such as ductility and/or tensile strength. The final casting can also he enhanced by heat treatment, as well as deformation processing such as extrusion, forging, or rolling, to further improve the strength of the final composite over the as-cast material.

A method of forming an aircraft component includes providing an aluminum alloy. The method further includes mixing a shape memory alloy (SMA) with the aluminum alloy to form a combination of the SMA and the aluminum alloy. The method further includes forming the aircraft component with the combination of the SMA and the aluminum alloy.

A lightweight, selectively degradable composite material is disclosed. The composite material comprises a compacted powder mixture of a first powder, the first powder comprising first metal particles comprising Mg, Al, Mn, or Zn, or an alloy of any of the above, or a combination of any of the above, having a first particle oxidation potential, a second powder, the second powder comprising low-density ceramic, glass, cermet, intermetallic, metal, polymer, or inorganic compound second particles, and a third metal powder, the third metal powder comprising third metal particles having an oxidation potential that is different than the first particle oxidation potential. The compacted powder mixture has a microstructure comprising a matrix comprising the first metal particles, the second particles and third particles dispersed within the matrix, the third particles comprising a network of third particles extending throughout the matrix, the composite material having a density of about 3.5 g/cm.sup.3 or less.

A lightweight, selectively degradable composite material is disclosed. The composite material comprises a compacted powder mixture of a first powder, the first powder comprising first metal particles comprising Mg, Al, Mn, or Zn, or an alloy of any of the above, or a combination of any of the above, having a first particle oxidation potential, a second powder, the second powder comprising low-density ceramic, glass, cermet, intermetallic, metal, polymer, or inorganic compound second particles, and a third metal powder, the third metal powder comprising third metal particles having an oxidation potential that is different than the first particle oxidation potential. The compacted powder mixture has a microstructure comprising a matrix comprising the first metal particles, the second particles and third particles dispersed within the matrix, the third particles comprising a network of third particles extending throughout the matrix, the composite material having a density of about 3.5 g/cm.sup.3 or less.

A method and apparatus for resistive heating usable in composite-based additive manufacturing is disclosed. The method includes providing a prepared stack of substrate sheets, placing the stack between electrode assemblies of a compression device, applying a current to thereby heat the stack to a final temperature to liquefy applied powder, compressing the stack to a final height, cooling the stack, and removing the cooled, compressed stack from the compression device. The apparatus comprises at least two plates, a power supply for providing current, a first electrode assembly and a second electrode assembly.

A method and apparatus for resistive heating usable in composite-based additive manufacturing is disclosed. The method includes providing a prepared stack of substrate sheets, placing the stack between electrode assemblies of a compression device, applying a current to thereby heat the stack to a final temperature to liquefy applied powder, compressing the stack to a final height, cooling the stack, and removing the cooled, compressed stack from the compression device. The apparatus comprises at least two plates, a power supply for providing current, a first electrode assembly and a second electrode assembly.

A method of additive manufacturing is provided. The method includes depositing a layer of base material from which an additively manufactured part is produced. The method also includes depositing a slurry onto the layer of base material, where the slurry includes a solvent, particles of a structural material, and a reinforcing agent.