Abstract:
The disclosure features methods of forming composite materials, and the composite materials formed by such methods. The methods include forming a mixture that includes a binder material and a filler material, and applying a pressure of at least 10 MPa to the mixture to form the composite material, where the composite material thus formed includes less than 9% by weight of the binder material, less than 18% by volume of the binder material, or both, and has a flexural strength of at least 3 MPa.