High Expansion Research Articles

Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4-α is necessary for high fat diet-induced pancreatic β-cell mass expansion and metabolic compensations

AimsThis study investigates the role of Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4α (HNF4α) in the adaptation of pancreatic β-cells to an HFD-induced obesogenic environment, focusing on β cell mass expansion and metabolic adaptations.Main methodsWe utilized an HNF4α knockout (KO) mouse model, with CRE-recombinase enzyme activation confirmed through tamoxifen administration. KO and Control (CTL) mice were fed an HFD for 20 weeks. We monitored body weight, food intake, glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and insulinemia. Also, to assess structural and metabolic changes, histological analyses of pancreatic islets and liver tissue were conducted.Key findingsKO mice displayed lower fasting blood glucose levels compared to CTL mice after tamoxifen administration, indicating impaired glucose-regulated insulin secretion. HFD-fed KO mice consumed less food but exhibited greater weight gain and perigonadal fat accumulation, reflecting higher energy efficiency. Histological analysis revealed more pronounced liver steatosis and fibrosis in KO mice on HFD. Glucose intolerance and insulin resistance were exacerbated in KO mice, highlighting their inability to adapt to increased metabolic demand. Structural analysis showed that KO mice failed to exhibit HFD-induced β cell mass expansion, resulting in reduced islet diameter and number, confirming the critical role of HNF4α in β cell adaptation.SignificanceThis study demonstrates that HNF4α is essential for the proper metabolic and structural adaptation of pancreatic β-cells in response to an obesogenic environment. The lack of HNF4α impairs β cell functionality, leading to increased susceptibility to glucose intolerance and insulin resistance. These findings underscore the importance of HNF4α in maintaining glucose homeostasis and highlight its potential as a therapeutic target for diabetes management in obesity.

Surface-Grinding-Induced Recrystallization and Metal Flow Causes Corrosion-Assisted Penetrating Attack of High-Mn–Low-CR Casting Steel in Humid Environments

This study examined the surface-grinding-induced microstructural modifications and corrosion attacks in a penetrating form of a high-Mn–low-Cr casting steel slab under humid environments. Various experimental and analytical findings from field-emission scanning electron microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and electrochemical analyses revealed that the abrasive grinding process led to the formation of a surface deformed region, comprising a recrystallized fine grain layer and multiple streamlines. Corrosion initially occurs preferentially along the boundary areas where Cr(Mn)23C6 particles are precipitated. Moreover, the corrosion products (Fe-based oxy/hydroxides) with a high volumetric expansion ratio detach readily from the surface deformed regions, facilitating the easy penetration of corrosive media. In contrast to conventional low-alloyed steels, which exhibit uniform corrosion behavior, corrosion-assisted penetrating attacks on ground high-Mn–low-Cr casting steel slabs occur more severely and frequently during the summer/dry season (i.e., relative humidity levels around 60% to 80%, rather than 100%) when a thin water film can form on the steel surface. Based on the result, effective technical strategies in terms of metallurgical and environmental aspects to mitigate the risk of corrosion-assisted penetrating attack of high-Mn–low-Cr casting steel were discussed.

Study on the removal behavior of constituent phases of SiCp/Al composites by ultrasonic vibration-assisted milling

SiCp/Al composites are widely used in aerospace, optical devices, electronic devices and other fields due to their excellent properties such as wear resistance, high specific strength and low thermal expansion coefficient. Due to the difference between the constituent phases of SiCp/Al composites and the high hardness of SiC particles, conventional milling (CM) leads to problems such as poor processing quality and severe tool wear. Ultrasonic vibration-assisted milling (UVAM) can achieve high-quality cutting of SiCp/Al composites. However, the relationship between constituent phases (SiC particles, Al matrix) and tool under ultrasonic vibration is complex and the research depth is insufficient. This paper focuses on the study of the interaction between the constituent phase of SiCp/Al composites and the tool in UVAM. The formation process of residual cutting zone and material removal mechanism in ultrasonic machining were analyzed, and the influence of ultrasonic vibration on the removal mechanism of SiCp/Al composites was explored from the aspects of tool cutting speed and tool kinetic energy. A three-dimensional micro-cutting model of SiCp/Al composite multi-particles was established, and the interaction between constituent phases and tool during cutting under different ultrasonic amplitude conditions was analyzed by finite element method and combined with a series of experiments. The results show that the introduced ultrasonic vibration increases the kinetic energy of the tool and improves the tool's ability to damage SiC particles and Al matrix. Compared with CM, UVAM significantly reduces surface pits, scratches, and SiC particle crushing defects, and the surface roughness Sa is reduced by 32.33 %. Tool wear is relieved, and the wear of the back tool face is reduced by 22.31 % at most. At the same time, the resultant milling force is also decreased 32.76 %. In short, the research in this paper is of great significance to improving the high-quality processing of SiCp/Al composites.

Occupational classes and inequality in educational expenditures: Reproduction of social hierarchy through school education

We examine the role of educational expenditure in reproducing social hierarchy by focusing on occupational segmentation in India. Studies show quality of schools vary by medium of instruction (English/vernacular) and type of management (private/government) in terms of skills they impart to students. While these skills improve the prospects for students’ future upward mobility, educational expenditures vary across school types, with ‘better’ quality schools being more expensive. Educational expenditure is an important channel that shapes the pattern of school participation, which, in turn, may affect patterns of future mobility for children belonging to households located in a hierarchical occupational structure. Using data on school education and household occupational structure for 2007-08 and 2017-18, we classify schools based on their medium-of-instruction and type-of-management, and rank household types in terms of their primary occupation. Given the high economic growth and expansion of schooling opportunities during this period, an improvement in participation of low-ranked household types in ‘better’ schools may be expected, which may improve their future mobility prospects. Using a logistic regression framework, we, however, find that the correspondence between hierarchies of school-types and occupations have largely sustained, crucially mediated by educational expenditures incurred by households. Further investigation shows inequality in educational expenditures between household types has strengthened over this period. A decomposition of educational expenditures across household types shows that while some of the difference in expenditures is explained by the household characteristics in terms of their caste, religion, and educational status, the major part is attributed to differential returns to these characteristics that households reap due to their social positions. Given the structural nature of some of these characteristics, the inequality is likely to continue, thereby sustaining the correspondence between school and occupation types, which, in turn, is likely to reproduce the pattern of occupational and social hierarchy in India.JELI21, I24, I25, Z13

Synergistic effects of boron carbide and eggshell particles on mechanical and tribological properties of ultrasonic-assisted stir cast aluminium alloy based composites

Aluminium matrix composites are in high demand for their lightweight nature and favourable properties, yet issues like high thermal expansion, low microhardness or high cost often challenge them. To address these limitations, the integration of sustainable, cost-effective reinforcing agents that can enhance hardness and wear resistance can be explored, as this can broaden the application scope of these composites across various industries. The present study fabricates aluminium matrix composites with aluminium alloy (AA6063-T6) as a matrix and different wt.% (0%, 2% and 4%) of micro-sized eggshell (ES) and boron carbide (B4C) particles as reinforcements through ultrasonic-assisted stir-casting. Analysis of microstructure, mechanical and tribological properties of the fabricated composites are done and compared to those of the as-cast base alloy. Results from optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), together with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis, revealed the uniform distribution of reinforcements in all three composites. X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated the formation of several compounds in each composite. Among all, the as-cast base alloy exhibited the lowest porosity at 0.48%. The AA6063-T6/B4C composite demonstrated the highest hardness, with an increase of 46.08%, while the AA6063-T6/ES/B4C composite achieved the highest tensile strength, showing a 62.28% improvement compared to the as-cast base alloy. As the load increased from 20N to 60N, the wear rate of the reinforced composites rises while the coefficient of friction decreased, with the AA6063-T6/B4C composite showing the highest wear resistance.

Assessing and tailoring the dilatometric profile of novel chromium‐free refractory raw materials

AbstractReducing dependence on toxic electrofused magnesia‐chromium aggregates is essential to meet demands for eco‐friendly refractories. Some authors have proposed alternative compositions using lab‐scale electrofusion to produce small specimens (< 0.5 g). However, this size limits the evaluation of key refractory properties, such as thermal expansion. As an alternative, this study explored conventional sintering at 1600°C for 5 h and both methods resulted in equivalent chemical and mineralogical compositions. Despite presenting higher porosity (24 % – 30 %) than the electrofused ones (4 % – 6 %), consistent microstructural parameters supported using the sintering route to produce larger specimens (5 × 5 × 25 mm3), which were assessed for dilatometric profiles up to 1400°C. Combined with thermodynamic calculations, Rietveld's refining of X‐ray diffraction patterns and differential scanning calorimetry, the dilatometric analysis indicated that spinel dissolution in the periclase causes a high expansion during heating, whereas its re‐precipitation results in shrinkage. As this behavior could result in challenges for the refractory lining design, computational thermodynamics was used to find additives capable of increasing this transition temperature. TiO₂ was identified as a promising candidate and its effectiveness was attested.

Interplay Between Wear and Thermal Expansion in 6082 Aluminum: A Simulation and Experimental Study

This study investigates how wear and thermal expansion interact in 6082 aluminum, utilizing a pin-on-disc tribometer and finite element analysis under diverse mechanical conditions. The findings show that thermal expansion reduces contact area by forming a protrusion at the contact interface. This interaction between wear and thermal expansion causes dynamic shifts in the contact region and pressure distribution, affecting the disc center and altering wear progression and temperature patterns. High thermal expansion shifts maximum wear from the contact center to outer regions, especially at higher speeds and loads. Without thermal expansion, wear-only conditions overestimate friction dissipation, resulting in a higher peak temperature. These results highlight the critical role of thermal expansion in shaping wear patterns and contact behavior in sliding applications. This research offers insights for optimizing tribological performance in 6082 aluminum, with potential applications in other materials.

Hierarchical porous silicon oxycarbide as a stable anode material for lithium-ion batteries

The porous and amorphous silicon oxycarbides (SiOC) derived from polymer precursors are regarded as promising anode materials for lithium-ion batteries due to their high theoretical capacity and minimal volume expansion. Modulations of carbon nanoclusters and reversible species in Si-O-C units have been performed to improve lithium storage properties of SiOC anodes. Herein, we report the effects of pore structure on cycling stability and rate performance of SiOC anode materials, which are prepared by a sol-gel approach using different additions of solvents and a subsequent calcination. The increase in the solvent addition promotes the formation of macropores in the hierarchical porous structure of the SiOC, thereby facilitating rapid Li ion migration and mitigating volume expansion during the lithiation of the SiOC. The as-prepared SiOC anode exhibits competitive reversible capacities of 750.4 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 after 150 cycles and 437.1 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1 after 500 cycles, compared to those of previously reported SiOC anodes. This work provides a new strategy for designing of high-capacity and high-stability SiOC anode materials.

Converging narrow-channel flow of a super-critical fluid

The solution of a supercritical fluid flowing into a constricted narrow channel is presented in this study. The compressible Navier-Stokes equations in the lubrication limit coupled with the energy equation and the isothermal and non-isothermal van der Waals fluid and perfect gas have been solved. In order to find the semi-analytical solution of these non-linear coupled equations, homogenization technique in the transverse direction has been applied. Because of the high compressibility and high thermal expansion of supercritical fluids, waviness is observed in the flow and thermal fields near the exit of the channel. This effect is attributed to the channel constriction where the slope is maximum, where a strong coupling between the pressure and density gradients exists. Moreover, the density difference between the exit and inlet of the channel drastically increases when one approaches the critical point, corroborating the data from existing literature.

Continuously tunable negative pressure for engineering high-symmetry nanocrystalline phases

In this work, the phenomenon of strain induced by a mismatch in thermal expansion coefficients between a thin film and its substrate is harnessed in a new context, replacing the canonical planar support with a three-dimensional (3-D), nanoconfining scaffold in which we embed a material of interest. In this manner, we demonstrate a general approach to exert a continuously tunable, triaxial, tensile strain, defying the Poisson ratio of the embedded material and achieving the exotic condition of "negative pressure." This approach is hypothetically generalizable to materials of low modulus and high thermal expansion coefficient, and we use it here to achieve negative pressure in perovskite-phase CsPbI3 embedded within the cylindrical pores of anodic aluminum oxide membranes. Through controlled thermal hysteresis, the perovskite crystal structure can be continuously tuned toward higher symmetry when confined in a scaffold with pore size <40 nm, in contrast with the symmetry-reducing action of any other mechanical perturbation. We use this effect to control the octahedral rotation angle that is critical to the remarkable photovoltaic attributes of halide perovskites. Under hundreds of megapascals of apparent negative pressure, the bandgap tunability is observed to follow the same quantitative trend observed for hydrostatic positive pressure, exploring the negative pressure region and demonstrating the relative dominance of bond stretching effects over average octahedral rotation angle on electronic structure. This study reveals and quantifies the structural and electronic consequences of 3D tensile strain present by design and provides a framework for understanding adventitious strain present in all nanocomposite materials.

Spontaneous high clonal expansion of Wilms’ tumor gene 1-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes in patients with Wilms’ tumor gene 1-expressing solid tumor

Wilms’ tumor protein 1 (WT1)-targeted immunotherapy has been used in patients with leukemia and solid tumors. However, the spontaneous WT1-specific immune response before WT1 peptide vaccination in patients with WT1-expressing tumors (PTs) remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated whether WT1-specific cytotoxic CD8+ T-lymphocytes (CTLs) are clonally expanded in the peripheral blood outside of tumor sites. Clonal expansion of WT1126 peptide (a.a.126–134)-specific CTLs (WT1126-CTLs) was compared between seven PTs and five healthy volunteers (HVs), and their T-cell receptors (TCRs) were analyzed at the single-cell level. Overall, 433 and 351 TCR β-chains of WT1126-CTLs were detected from PTs and HVs, respectively, and complementarity-determining region 3 was sequenced for clonality analysis. The frequencies of WT1126-CTLs were higher in human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A*02:01+ PTs than in HLA-A*02:01+ HVs, although the difference was not statistically significant. WT1126-CTLs of differentiated types, including memory and effector, were higher in PTs than in HVs; whereas, those of the naïve type were higher in HVs than in PTs. WT1126-CTL clonality was significantly higher in PTs than in HVs. Furthermore, the frequency of effector WT1126-CTLs positively correlated with WT1126-CTL clonality in PTs; whereas, the frequency of naïve phenotype WT1126-CTLs tended to be negatively correlated with clonality. In conclusion, these results suggest that the WT1 protein in tumor cells is highly immunogenic, thereby stimulating endogenous naïve-type WT1126-CTLs and enabling them to clonally expand and differentiate into effector-type WT1126-CTLs.

Green synthesis of SiOx/C-TiO2 with continuous conductive network towards enhancing lithium storage performance

High-capacity SiOx anodes face significant challenges in practical applications due to their low conductivity and high expansion rate. The combination of nanoengineering and carbon capping processes has been proven to address these issues. However, most carbon capping techniques cannot ensure uniform capping and fail to form a continuous conductive phase between active materials. This work proposes a green (solvent-free) and facile method for constructing SiOx/C-TiO2 (SCT@CN) nanocomposites by creating a three-dimensional carbon conductive network from gelatin-derived carbon and doping with titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs). Comparison of TiO2 NPs with varying doping levels reveals that the synergistic effect between the conductive carbon network and TiO2 NPs enhances both the structural stability of batteries during charge/discharge cycles and the efficiency of active material utilization and lithium-ion diffusion. With the increase of TiO2 NPs, the capacity retention and ICE of the electrode improved, while the initial discharge capacity decreased. Notably, the SCT-2@CN electrode with 10 wt% TiO2 NPs exhibits the best electrochemical performance, with an initial coulombic efficiency (ICE) of 73.2 %. After 700 cycles at a high current density of 2.0 A g−1, it maintained a capacity of 503 mAh g−1, with a capacity retention rate of 81.86 %. The optimized carbon capping process and introduction of novel elements have the potential to enhance a range of energy storage materials.

Exploring B-cell epitope conservation and antigenicity shift in current COVID-19 variants: Analyzing spike-antibody interactions for therapeutic uses

SARS-CoV-2, responsible for the global COVID-19 pandemic, has undergone significant genetic changes, leading to various variants impacting transmissibility, severity, and vaccine efficacy. The methodology involved evaluating SARS-CoV-2 variants designated by WHO as Variants of Interest (VOIs) and Variants Under Monitoring (VUMs). Several noteworthy mutations including G446S, K417N, T478K, E484A, N501Y, and Y505H exhibit a strong pattern of convergent evolution across all these variants, particularly at antigenic sites within the spike protein. Conformational epitopes mapping and antigenicity shift analyses implicated epitope changes which were compared for therapeutic purposes. VUMs BA.2.86 and XBB.2.3 show significant antigenicity changes and epitope dynamics, correlating with high root mean square deviation values and epitope expansions or contractions. Nonsynonymous mutations are predominant in all variants, suggesting functional changes affecting transmissibility and immune evasion. VOIs XBB.1.5, BA.2.86, and CH.1.1 show high solvent-accessible surface area and radius of gyration, indicating structural expansion and increased epitope availability. In contrast, stable VOI EG.5.1 displays minimal structural changes and moderate epitope expansions. We evaluated two classes of antibodies for their effectiveness in neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 variants. Antibodies CC12.1 and P4A1 from Class I, alongside CV07-250, P5A-2G9, and MW05 from Class II, display strong binding across multiple variants, indicating broad neutralizing capabilities. Specifically, P4A1 shows the highest affinity for EG.5 and EG.5.1, while MW05 exhibits the strongest binding to XBB.1.5, CH.1.1, and XBB.2.3, highlighting their potent neutralization potential. This study aims to elucidate epitope variations in evolving SARS-CoV-2 strains, offering critical insights for developing targeted interventions against current challenges posed by the virus.

Study on microstructure characteristics and hole expansion mechanism of Ti–Nb–V microalloyed 900 MPa hot-rolled ferrite-bainite high hole expansion steel

In this study, a 900 MPa grade hot-rolled ferrite/bainite high hole expansion steel was developed using thermomechanical controlled processing (TMCP) and medium-temperature coiling with a Ti–Nb–V multi-microalloy design. The effects of cooling rates and coiling temperatures on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and hole expansion behavior were systematically investigated. The steel, coiled at 600 °C and cooled at a controlled rate (10–25 °C/s), demonstrated an excellent balance of strength and ductility, achieving a tensile strength of 901 MPa and elongation of 23%. The microstructure consisted of approximately 62% ferrite and 38% bainite, characterized by a uniform and fine grain distribution. The high coiling temperature increased the content of Ti–Nb–V composite precipitates, while reduced cooling times promoted the formation of smaller precipitates primarily along dislocation lines and grain boundaries. A hole expansion ratio of 77% was achieved due to the optimized grain morphology and phase ratio, with refined grains and high-angle grain boundaries impeding crack propagation. Additionally, the increased presence of secondary precipitates strengthened the soft phase ferrite and enhanced the coordinated deformation between ferrite and bainite. These combined effects significantly improved the steel's resistance to crack propagation during hole expansion, making it a promising material for applications requiring high strength and formability.

Low chemical-expansion and self-catalytic nickel-substituted strontium cobaltite perovskite four-channel hollow fibre membrane for partial oxidation of methane

In membrane reactors, the thermo-mechanical stability of the membrane determines the operability of the reaction, while the permeability and catalytic performance dictate the reaction process. A high chemical expansion coefficient can exacerbate the mismatch in the thermal expansion behaviour between the two sides of the membrane, potentially resulting in fracture. The low permeability and slow catalytic activity can slow the reaction process and result in an unsatisfactory product composition. Here, a Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.7Fe0.2Ni0.1O3-δ (BSCFN) four-channel hollow fibre membrane with a low chemical-expansion and high oxygen permeation flux has been successfully fabricated by phase inversion and a one-step thermal process (OSTP). Reaction sintering during the OSTP forms an NiO in-situ exsolution phase on the membrane surface, and A-site stoichiometry excess occurs, improves the oxygen permeation flux, and provides the membrane with self-catalytic ability during the partial oxidation of methane (POM) reactions. Consequently, the BSCFN membrane shows excellent performance; exhibiting an oxygen flux of 11.75 mL cm−2·min−1 at 900 °C. Furthermore, the self-catalytic BSCFN membrane has a good hydrogen production of 10.1 mL cm−2·min−1 during the POM process, which is 7.5 times higher than that of Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-δ membranes (1.87 mL cm−2·min−1). This offers a viable strategy for the development of membrane reactor applications.

The influence of CeO2 on the oxidation resistance of TaC/Ni composites

The in-situ TaC/Ni composites with different CeO2 content (0 wt%, 1 wt%, 2 wt%) were prepared by reactive sintering method, and their oxidation behavior in air at 1073 K was analyzed by static cyclic oxidation method to investigate the influence mechanism of CeO2 on the oxidation resistance of composites. The results show that the CeO2 particles are distributed around the TaC particles in the Ni matrix, and the oxidation behavior of composites with different CeO2 content conforms to the linear kinetic law. The oxide film is mainly composed of NiTa2O6 and a small amount of NiO. The generation reactions of Ta2O5 and NiTa2O6 induce a high expansion and compressive stress in oxide scale, leading to the formation of nonprotective oxide film with pores and cracks on the surface. As the addition of CeO2 increases from 0 wt% to 2 wt%, the thickness of oxide scale on composites obviously reduces from 505 μm to 122 μm, and the Ni and Ta oxides content decreases, leading to the reduction of pores and cracks in oxide scale. The Ce ion generated from the dissolution of CeO2 particles mainly distributes in the Ta oxides during the oxidation process, which hinders the outward diffusion of Ni and Ta ions, resulted in the improved oxidation resistance of TaC/Ni composites.

Bird Leg Skin Lesions and Urbanization in a Neotropical Savanna City.

Urban sprawl threatens biodiversity and is responsible for significant changes in the species that live in these environments. Given the high cost of comprehensive surveillance, monitoring disease indirectly, such as detecting skin lesions in birds, may help us better understand the prevalence of diseases affecting wild populations. We assessed the frequency of leg skin lesions, as a proxy of disease presence, in 1,565 individuals of 25 species, along the urban matrix of a large Neotropical city, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil. We tested the hypothesis that there is an increase in the frequency of skin lesions in birds due to urban intensification. We observed an increasing trend in some bird species between the frequency of occurrence of lesions and the intensity of urbanization. Species with a higher number of captures had an increase in the percentage of lesions, indicating that the occurrence of lesions may be linked to higher population density or that detection of the effect occurs only when sample sizes are high and controlled among urbanization categories. Our study highlights how the intensity of urbanization may increase the risk of disease transmission for these species. Unfortunately, studies on this topic are scarce in Neotropical regions, despite the region's high biodiversity and urban expansion.

Development of Interpenetrating Phase Structure AZ91/Al2O3 Composites with High Stiffness, Superior Strength and Low Thermal Expansion Coefficient

Development of Interpenetrating Phase Structure AZ91/Al2O3 Composites with High Stiffness, Superior Strength and Low Thermal Expansion Coefficient

Low energy limit from high energy expansion in mass gapped theory

We present a method to extract the low energy behavior of physical observables from their high energy expansions, systematically calculable via the operator product expansion (OPE), in asymptotically free and mass-gapped theories. By applying the inverse Laplace transform to correlation functions, their analytic structure is modified such that low-energy information connects with high energy expansions. Furthermore, this transformation alleviates the renormalon problem, enabling a more straightforward application of the OPE compared to the OPE before the transformation. We demonstrate that the low energy limit of correlation functions can be accurately extracted using the OPE in the two dimensional O(N) nonlinear σ model, serving as a first testing ground.

Low magnetic field alignment of carbon fibers in a polymer matrix for high-performance thermal interface materials

Carbon-based materials like carbon nanotubes, graphene nanoplatelets, graphite, and carbon fibers (CF) are highly promising fillers for enhancing the thermal conductivity of thermal interface materials (TIMs) due to their high thermal conductivity and low thermal expansion. Aligning these fillers can further improve thermal conductivity, but current alignment methods using high magnetic fields are impractical for industrial use. In this study, we investigated the enhancement of the thermal conductivity of CF–polymer composites by aligning CF fillers with a low magnetic field. We observed up to 17 times enhancement of the thermal conductivity (from 3.1 to 52.8 W/mK) in a CF–graphene–polymer composite film by vertically aligning the CF fillers with a magnetic field of 0.75 T. The analysis of the structural properties of the films using X-ray diffraction and field-emission scanning electron microscopy imaging confirmed that the crystalline c-axis of the graphite plates in the CF was oriented perpendicular to the magnetic field direction. The large anisotropy in the diamagnetic susceptibility of the laminated graphene structure of the CF flakes is at the origin of the filler alignment. Furthermore, the thermal conductivity of the composites showed a strong correlation with the degree of filler alignment, which was dependent on the CF–graphene hybridization and the type of polymer matrix. This study provides a scalable and cost-effective method for enhancing the physical properties of carbon composites by controlling their microarchitecture using a low magnetic field.