Compressive properties of aluminum foam produced by powder-Carbamide spacer route

Abstract

Effects of cell shape and size, and relative density of aluminum foam on its compressive behavior have been investigated. Aluminum foams were produced via aluminum powder-Carbamide spacer route. The results show that angular cells significantly reduce mechanical properties of the foam. They also indicate that compressive properties of the foams, including plateau stress (σpl), densification strain (εD), and energy absorption, increase by cell size and relative density of the foams. Experimental results were compared with theoretical predictions; they were fairly corresponded to theoretical conceptions; this arises from near-ideal architecture of the foams with almost spherical cells, in this study. Constant values of C, n and α in theoretical modulus and densification strain equations wear calculated as 1.22, 2.09 and 0.95, respectively. The values indicate compressive behavior approaches to ideal morphology foam via employing spherical space holder.