The embedding of light metals in the porous system of graphite materials not only enables the improvement of their electrical conductivity, but more importantly reduces the specific weight to a low level. Some light metals also improve the tribological characteristics.

Aluminium and magnesium are among the most important light metals with which light metal graphite composites are produced. Typical applications include sliding strips in the railway industry, carbon brushes in industrial engineering and utilisation of the positive sliding characteristics in bearing and seal systems.

Aluminium infiltrated graphites combine a high thermal conductivity with a low coefficient of thermal expansion. Together with their low density these materials are ideally suited for heatsinks or heat spreaders in many electronic applications.