Influence of cell wall microstructure on the energy absorption capability of aluminium foam

• We produce metal foam and further thermally treated for property enhancement.
• We examined the changes in the microstructure after thermal treatment.
• Fracture test affirms the role of microstructural on properties enhancement.

The microstructure of aluminium foam produced by decomposing TiH2 in the stabilized melt can be modified by heat treatment to improve the mechanical properties of the cell wall. Different microstructures were developed through solutionizing and quenching followed by thermal ageing treatment. Uniaxial compression tests were performed on foam specimens to understand as to how the microstructure of the cell wall influences the energy absorption capability of the foam. It is found that the solutionized sample has the best energy absorption capability (29.3 MPa) when compared to the as-foamed (13.2 MPa) and aged samples (15.9 MPa). The crack progression studies carried through interrupted compression tests confirm the detrimental influence of the cast dendritic structure and the lamellar Al2Cu precipitate formed during aging. The results suggest that the extent of thermal aging in aluminium foam depends on the precipitation behaviour in the aluminium matrix.

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