Metal Foam

Basics

• A Metal that has gas pockets and is thus foam in a similar manner to Foamed Polystyrene
• Much Lighter than metal, and exhibits other unique properties
• "Infiltration Method" involves using a salt to form the gaps, and dissolving it once the cast has cooled down
  • Due to not needing a Blowing Agent this seems to be the more Appropriate Technology

Example

Hollow steel balls with steel powder create a porous steel, classified as a 'foam'

External Links

• The Wikipedia Page on Metal Foam
• A 1993 Paper Titled "PM technology in the production of metal foams"
• A 2020 Paper Titled "Molten Metal Infiltration Methods to Process Metal Matrix Syntactic Foams"
• A 2016 Paper Titled "COMPARISON OF CONVENTIONAL OPEN-CELL ALUMINUM FOAM AND ITS ADDITIVELY MANUFACTURED TWIN"
• A 2014 Paper Titled "Casting Protocols for the Production of Open Cell Aluminum Foams by the Replication Technique and the Effect on Porosity" (Good Diagram, the salt and gaps didn't have any color contrast, may lead to some confusion)
• A 2012 Paper Titled "Porous Metals and Metal Foams Made from Powders"
  • Good diagram but said it could be sintered to fuse or melt the metal which may be a bit confusing/inaccurate?