Abstract: A hybrid structural material combines high thermal conductivity and pre-determined mechanical properties compatible with adjacent or attached materials. It has three elements: (1) a non-structural, high thermal conductivity core material which defines the thermal conductivity of the hybrid structural material; (2) a pair of face sheets, which form opposing surfaces of the hybrid structural material and help to define its mechanical properties, disposed on opposite sides of the core material to create a face sheet-core material-face sheet sandwich construction; and (3) a frame substantially surrounding the core material and bonded to the face sheets for helping to define (along with the face sheets) the mechanical properties of the hybrid structural material.The interfaces between the face sheets and the core material allow physical contact, but prevent structural interaction, between the face sheets and the core material.