Structural modeling and mechanical behavior of Metal-Porous-Polymer-Composites (MPPCs) with different polymer volume fractions

Since the past five decades, the study of new materials has become attractive in both scientific research and industrial applications. For purpose of enhancing mechanical properties of metallic foam, a new composite entitled “Metal-Porous-Polymer-Composite (MPPC)” consisting of open-cell metallic foam and filling polymers was developed by infiltrating the filling polymers throughout the connected pores in open-cell metallic foam. Based on a three-dimensional (3D) structural modeling, microscopic structural models of Al metallic foam and MPPCs with spherical pores and Kelvin's pores are established in the finite element code. Introducing the elastoplastic mechanical properties, the polymer-metal interfacial behaviors and the proper loads and boundary conditions on these structural models of Al metallic foam and MPPCs, the numerical compressive behaviors of Al metallic foam and PA6/Al & LDPE/Al MPPCs are successfully performed. The results show that the mechanical properties of PA6/Al & LDPE/Al MPPCs are mainly influenced by the filling polymers, the kind of pores, the pore size, the polymer-metal interface, the polymer volume fraction and the distribution of pores, respectively. It means that a good understanding can be provided concerning the deformation mechanism and engineering applications of both Al metallic foam and MPPCs.