Effect of heat treatments on the mechanical behaviour of aluminium alloy foams

Two different closed-cell aluminium foams, manufactured by compact powder technology starting from 7075 and 6061 alloys, were studied with the aim of investigating the effect of heat treatments on their axial crushing behaviour. By means of scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive spectroscopy analyses, the crushing response was investigated in an attempt to understand how heat treatments may improve the absorbing efficiency of crashboxes.