Improved energy absorption capacity of closed-cell aluminium foams by electroplating

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the present study, hybrid closed-cell foams consisting of two materials with different ductilities were manufactured to improve the energy absorption capacity. The mechanical characteristics, deformation modes and energy absorption capacities of the foams were investigated. Furthermore, the energy absorption mechanisms of the hybrid foams were analysed. The results demonstrated a significant synergistic effect between the foams and coating with different ductilities during deformation. Their combination increased the densification strain and improved the energy absorption capacity of the samples. Among the specimens investigated, the Al/Zn–Cu(A) foam showed the best densification strain (0.75) and presented superior energy absorption capacities (energy absorption capacity per unit volume (U v) = 4.5 J cm–3; energy absorption capacity per unit mass (U m) = 8.4 J g–1). The intrinsic mechanism of energy absorption optimisation is a combination of the advantages of brittle and ductile deformation modes.