A nanostructured copper alloy, Cu-Ta-Li (Copper-Tantalum-Lithium), could be a groundbreaking new high-temperature material for aerospace, defense, and industrial applications, combining properties of several materials into a useful hybrid. Developed in a collaboration between the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) and Lehigh University (LU), the alloy is one of the toughest copper-based materials ever devised due to its high thermal stability and mechanical strength. Arizona State University and Louisiana State University scientists also contributed to the creation of this new heat-resistant alloy. Cutting Edge Material Science “This is cutting-edge science, developing a new material that uniquely combines copper’s excellent conductivity with...