The use of dolomite as foaming agent and its effect on the microstructure of aluminium metal foams—Comparison to titanium hydride

In this paper dolomite MgCa(CO3)2 a naturally occurring mineral was demonstrated to be an effective foaming and stabilizing agent for aluminium with several notable advantages relative to the currently used titanium hydride foaming agent. Characteristic cell structures and microstructural features of foams produced with a dolomite foaming agent are examined and the properties of dolomite based foams produced in a one step process are compared with those produced using titanium hydride based process. The most notable structural feature of dolomite based foams is a smaller cell size and thinner cell faces. Foaming with MgCa(CO3)2 also gives rise to a marked increase in the stability of molten foams with a large range of foaming temperatures possible, and an almost complete absence of melt drainage even with extended foaming times. Many of these properties are attributed to the cell surfaces being covered by a thin oxide film formed during the foaming process.