Hybrid nanocrystalline periodic cellular materials

A new type of nanocrystalline hybrid material was created by electroforming high-strength nanocrystalline sleeves around a periodic cellular (i.e. micro-truss) aluminum alloy pre-form that was fabricated using a modified stretch-forming method. Mechanical properties of the cellular hybrids were evaluated in compression and were determined to be largely controlled by the sleeve thickness. For the thickest sleeves (400 μm) there was an order of magnitude increase in peak strength and an approximately 3-fold increase in specific strength.