Compressive property and energy absorption characteristic of 3D open-cell Ni–Cr–Fe alloy foams under quasi-static conditions

Abstract

Reticulated open-cell Ni–Cr–Fe foams were manufactured by gas-phase codeposition of Cr and Fe onto the struts of pure Ni foam at 1050 °C, and then the samples were homogenization treated at 1200 °C in a vacuum atmosphere. The quasi-static compressive behavior and energy absorption characteristics of the Ni–Cr–Fe alloy foams with different Cr and Fe contents were discussed. The mechanical properties of these open-cell Ni–Cr–Fe alloy foams were also comparable with the pure Ni foams or the hypothetical Ni–Cr–Fe foam model. The results show that although the alloy foam struts show the similar hardness, the compressive strengths and energy absorption properties of the open-cell Ni–Cr–Fe alloy foams increase with increasing the Cr and Fe contents. The stress–strain behaviours of the Ni–Cr–Fe alloy foams are as smooth as those of nickel foams, indicating that the Ni–Cr–Fe alloy foams are the characteristic of typical ductile metallic foam. The energy absorption capabilities of the Ni–Cr–Fe alloy foams exhibit 22 times higher than that of the pure Ni foams. Simultaneously, the compressive strength of the Ni–Cr–Fe alloy foams at ambient temperature is in agreement with theoretical prediction by Gibson–Ashby model.