Mechanical properties of hybrid nanocrystalline metal foams

Electrodeposition can be used to create new types of hybrid nanocrystalline cellular materials in which the interconnected network of nanocrystalline tubes controls the overall mechanical performance. The present study examines the mechanical performance and failure mechanisms that occur during the uniaxial compression of conventional open-cell Al foams that have been reinforced with electrodeposited nanocrystalline Ni. A composite cellular material approach was used to model the measured increase in compressive modulus and peak strength in terms of the predicted behaviour for a hollow-tube nanocrystalline Ni foam.