Hollow glass microspheres (HGMs)/epoxy syntactic foam were reinforced by hybrid functionalized carbon nanotubes that were synthesized by simultaneous covalent and noncovalent functionalization of carbon nanotubes. The effect of hybrid functionalized carbon nanotubes on density, mechanical properties, and water absorption of HGMs/epoxy syntactic foam was studied. The study indicated that the dispersion of carbon nanotubes in epoxy resin can be improved by hybrid functionalization. The compression strength of syntactic foam reinforced by hybrid functionalized carbon nanotubes was significantly enhanced. The maximum compressive strength of syntactic foam corresponding to chitosan modified carbon nanotubes approached 60 MPa. Hybrid functionalized carbon nanotubes had little effect on the water absorption ability of syntactic foam, and was less than 1%.

AlMgTi-based metal–intermetallic laminated composites were successfully fabricated through an innovative dual-step vacuum hot pressing. First, this study prepares the AlTi-based laminated composites by vacuum hot pressing at 650 °C. Then, the researchers place the Mg-Al-1Zn (AZ31) magnesium alloy between the prepared AlTi-based laminated composites at 430 °C for hot pressing. This study investigates the microstructure, phase composition, and microhardness distribution across interfaces of the intermetallics and metal. A multilayer phase (Mg17Al12, Al3Mg2, and transition layers) structure can be found from the diffusion layers between Al and AZ31. The microhardness of the material presents a wavy distribution in the direction perpendicular to the layers; the maximum can be up to 600.0 HV0.2 with a minimum of 28.7 HV0.2 The microhardness gradient of an AlMgTi-based composite is smoother due to the different microhardness of the layers, and reduces the interface stress concentration. The bending strength of AlMgTi-based composites can reach 265 MPa, and the specific strength is 105 × 103 Nm/kg, higher than AlTi-based composites.