Metal Matrix Composites (MMC's) have found an increased use in various industries due to their special mechanical and physical properties. They are a composite material with at least two constituent parts, one being a metal and are made by dispersing a reinforcing material into a metal matrix. The markets are: telecommunications, automotive, power semiconductor, opto-electronics, military and aerospace, heavy transportation, space systems and satellites, medical, and industrial lighting. Applications within these markets include microwave, micro-electronic packaging, laser diode, HB-LED's, and advanced radar.

Symposium C, 'Fundamentals of Low-Dimensional Carbon Nanomaterials', was held November 29-December 3 at the 2010 MRS Fall Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts. This resultant proceedings volume includes topics such as growth techniques for CNTs and graphene, structural characterization, novel properties, and interface and surface structures. Low-dimensional carbon nanostructures exhibit a rich structural diversity from zero-dimensional C60, one-dimensional carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and two-dimensional graphene and graphite oxides. These low-dimensional carbon nanostructures are at the forefront of materials science and provide a platform for understanding the growth mechanisms and properties of nanostructures in general. They exhibit novel properties with endless potential applications from high-speed electronics to high-performance composites. Although low-dimensional carbon nanomaterials have attracted great interest in the research community, the applications and commercialization of graphene and CNTs have, to date, not been as successful as anticipated. The need for significant improvements in material quality and structural uniformity exists.