Abstract: A metal matrix composite is provided, including a metal, inorganic particles, and discontinuous fibers. The inorganic particles and the discontinuous fibers are dispersed in the metal. The metal includes aluminum, magnesium, or alloys thereof. The inorganic particles have an envelope density that is at least 30% less than a density of the metal. The metal matrix composite has a lower envelope density than the matrix metal while retaining a substantial amount of the mechanical properties of the metal.

Abstract: A method of making a porous metal matrix composite is provided. The method includes mixing a metal powder, a plurality of inorganic particles, and a plurality of discontinuous fibers to form a mixture, wherein the metal powder comprises aluminum, magnesium, an aluminum alloy, or a magnesium alloy. The method further includes sintering the mixture to form the porous metal matrix composite. Typically, the inorganic particles comprise porous particles or ceramic bubbles or glass bubbles, and the inorganic particles and the discontinuous fibers are dispersed in the metal. The metal matrix composite has a lower density than the metal and an acceptable yield strength.

Abstract: An insulated composite power cable having a wire core defining a common longitudinal axis, a multiplicity of composite wires around the wire core, and an insulative sheath surrounding the composite wires. In some embodiments, a first multiplicity of composite wires is helically stranded around the wire core in a first lay direction at a first lay angle defined relative to a center longitudinal axis over a first lay length, and a second multiplicity of composite wires is helically stranded around the first multiplicity of composite wires in the first lay direction at a second lay angle over a second lay length, the relative difference between the first lay angle and the second lay angle being no greater than about 4°. The insulated composite cables may be used for underground or underwater electrical power transmission. Methods of making and using the insulated composite cables are also described.

Abstract: Thermoset polymer composite wires including a multiplicity of substantially continuous fibers embedded in a solidified polymer composite matrix and forming a substantially continuous filament, the solidified polymer composite matrix further including a polymer formed by curing a polymer precursor from a liquid state and a multiplicity of nanoparticles having a median diameter of one micrometer or less substantially uniformly dispersed throughout the polymer composite matrix, and optionally, a corrosion resistant sheath surrounding the substantially continuous filament. In some embodiments, the multiplicity of particles includes surface-modified particles having a core and a surface modifying agent associated with the core and reacted with the polymer cured from a liquid state. Stranded cables including one or more such thermoset polymer composite wires, and methods of making and using such thermoset polymer composite wires and stranded cables are also described.

Abstract: Embodiments of submersible composite cables include a non-composite electrically conductive core cable, a multiplicity of composite cables, including a multiplicity of composite wires, around the core cable, and an insulative sheath surrounding the composite cables. Other embodiments include an electrically conductive core cable; a multiplicity of elements selected from fluid transport, electrical power transmission, electrical signal transmission, light transmission, weight elements, buoyancy elements, filler elements, or armor elements, arranged around the core cable in at least one cylindrical layer defined about a center longitudinal axis of the core cable when viewed in a radial cross section; a multiplicity of composite wires surrounding the elements in at least one cylindrical layer about the center longitudinal axis; and an insulative sheath surrounding the composite wires. The composite wires may be metal matrix or polymer composite wires.

Abstract: A compression connector and assembly include an elongated, interiorly hollow tube, and at least one tubular sleeve, the tube including a first material exhibiting a first axial extrusion rate and the sleeve including a second material exhibiting a second axial extrusion rate, wherein the sleeve wall thickness is selected such that, when inserted into the tube and subjected to mechanical compression in a direction substantially orthogonal to the tube's exterior surface, deforms so that the first and second materials extrude axially at substantially the same rate. In some exemplary embodiments, the sleeve wall thickness may be selected to be thin, or the sleeve may include a multiplicity of axially spaced-apart corrugations formed in at least one exterior or interior surface. The assembly may include stranded composite wires, optionally with a tape covering only a portion of the composite wires. A method of making the compression connector is also described.

Abstract: An insulated composite power cable having a wire core defining a common longitudinal axis, a multiplicity of composite wires around the wire core, and an insulative sheath surrounding the composite wires. In some embodiments, a first multiplicity of composite wires is helically stranded around the wire core in a first lay direction at a first lay angle defined relative to a center longitudinal axis over a first lay length, and a second multiplicity of composite wires is helically stranded around the first multiplicity of composite wires in the first lay direction at a second lay angle over a second lay length, the relative difference between the first lay angle and the second lay angle being no greater than about 4°. The insulated composite cables may be used for underground or underwater electrical power transmission. Methods of making and using the insulated composite cables are also described.

Abstract: Cable having a stress parameter less than 0 MPa and method for cable. The cable has a longitudinal core having a thermal expansion coefficient; and a plurality of wires collectively having a thermal expansion coefficient greater than the thermal expansion coefficient of the core. The plurality of wires, which are stranded around the core, include at least one of aluminum wires, copper wires, aluminum alloy wires, or copper alloy wires. Embodiments of the cable are useful, for example, as an overhead power transmission line.

Abstract: Thermoset polymer composite wires including a multiplicity of substantially continuous fibers embedded in a solidified polymer composite matrix and forming a substantially continuous filament, the solidified polymer composite matrix further including a polymer formed by curing a polymer precursor from a liquid state and a multiplicity of nanoparticles having a median diameter of one micrometer or less substantially uniformly dispersed throughout the polymer composite matrix, and optionally, a corrosion resistant sheath surrounding the substantially continuous filament. In some embodiments, the multiplicity of particles includes surface-modified particles having a core and a surface modifying agent associated with the core and reacted with the polymer cured from a liquid state. Stranded cables including one or more such thermoset polymer composite wires, and methods of making and using such thermoset polymer composite wires and stranded cables are also described.

Abstract: A compression connector and assembly include an elongated, interiorly hollow tube, and at least one tubular sleeve, the tube including a first material exhibiting a first axial extrusion rate and the sleeve including a second material exhibiting a second axial extrusion rate, wherein the sleeve wall thickness is selected such that, when inserted into the tube and subjected to mechanical compression in a direction substantially orthogonal to the tube's exterior surface, deforms so that the first and second materials extrude axially at substantially the same rate. In some exemplary embodiments, the sleeve wall thickness may be selected to be thin, or the sleeve may include a multiplicity of axially spaced-apart corrugations formed in at least one exterior or interior surface. The assembly may include stranded composite wires, optionally with a tape covering only a portion of the composite wires. A method of making the compression connector is also described.

Abstract: Embodiments of submersible composite cables include a non-composite electrically conductive core cable, a multiplicity of composite cables, including a multiplicity of composite wires, around the core cable, and an insulative sheath surrounding the composite cables. Other embodiments include an electrically conductive core cable; a multiplicity of elements selected from fluid transport, electrical power transmission, electrical signal transmission, light transmission, weight elements, buoyancy elements, filler elements, or armor elements, arranged around the core cable in at least one cylindrical layer defined about a center longitudinal axis of the core cable when viewed in a radial cross section; a multiplicity of composite wires surrounding the elements in at least one cylindrical layer about the center longitudinal axis; and an insulative sheath surrounding the composite wires. The composite wires may be metal matrix or polymer composite wires.

Abstract: An insulated composite power cable having a wire core defining a common longitudinal axis, a multiplicity of composite wires around the wire core, and an insulative sheath surrounding the composite wires. In some embodiments, a first multiplicity of composite wires is helically stranded around the wire core in a first lay direction at a first lay angle defined relative to a center longitudinal axis over a first lay length, and a second multiplicity of composite wires is helically stranded around the first multiplicity of composite wires in the first lay direction at a second lay angle over a second lay length, the relative difference between the first lay angle and the second lay angle being no greater than about 4°. The insulated composite cables may be used for underground or underwater electrical power transmission. Methods of making and using the insulated composite cables are also described.

Abstract: A method of installing an electrical transmission cable includes providing an electrical transmission cable extending from a first end to a second end. The cable includes a flexible, full tension splice between the first end and the second end. Additionally, the electrical transmission cable includes at least one composite wire. Additionally, the flexible, full tension splice is pulled over a first sheave assembly.

Abstract: A method of installing an electrical transmission cable includes providing an electrical transmission cable extending from a first end to a second end. The cable includes a flexible, full tension splice between the first end and the second end. Additionally, the electrical transmission cable includes at least one composite wire. Additionally, the flexible, full tension splice is pulled over a first sheave assembly.

Abstract: A method of installing an electrical transmission cable includes providing an electrical transmission cable extending from a first end to a second end. The cable includes a flexible, full tension splice between the first end and the second end. Additionally, the electrical transmission cable includes at least one composite wire. Additionally, the flexible, full tension splice is pulled over a first sheave assembly.

Abstract: A method of installing an electrical transmission cable includes providing an electrical transmission cable extending from a first end to a second end. The cable includes a flexible, full tension splice between the first end and the second end. Additionally, the electrical transmission cable includes at least one composite wire. Additionally, the flexible, full tension splice is pulled over a first sheave assembly.

Abstract: A method for forming metal-cladded metal matrix composite wires. The method associates a ductile metal cladding to the exterior surface of a metal matrix composite wire comprising a plurality of continuous, longitudinally positioned fibers in a metal matrix.

Abstract: Cable comprising at least one of aramid, ceramic, boron, poly(p-phenylene-2.6-benzobisoxazole), graphite, carbon, titanium, tungsten, or shape memory alloy and having a stress parameter not greater than 5 MPa. Embodiments of the cable are useful, for example, as an overhead power transmission line.

Abstract: Cable and method for cable. Embodiments of the cable are useful, for example, as an overhead power transmission line.

Abstract: Cable and method for cable. Embodiments of the cable are useful, for example, as an overhead power transmission line.