Metal Foam: Literature, Applications, Modelling and Experimentation Study

Advanced Engineering
Materials: Metal foam
Student Name:
Student R. N.:

Abstract
Advancement in the technology requires material with higher
mechanical, physical and electrical properties, like low density, high
thermal conductivity, high stabilization, high energy, vibration and
noise absorbing capability. Conventional material cannot serve these
requirements as they do not possess all these qualities. Metal foams
can serve these all requirements. Present work deals with metal
foams literature, applications, modelling and experimentation study.
Literature reveals that aluminium foam are the most widely utilized
metal foams, as they are lighter in weight and are inexpensive
compared to the other metallic foams. Different numerical methods
like finite element method (FEM), phase field method, molecular
dynamics, kinetic Monte Carlo method and Ab initio are discussed to
simulate the different properties of the metallic foams. Other metallic
foams like silicon carbide, Nanoporous gold, Nanoporous carbon etc.
is also discussed in the present work.

Definition
Metal foams can be classified as a materials having low density.
They also possess high thermal, electrical, mechanical, physical
and acoustic properties. They offer light weight to the structures
and are also very cheap. They also offer stiffness to structures for
proper absorption of the energy. They are recyclable and non-
toxic which makes them suitable [1].

Manufacturing methods
1. High-pressure gas trapping with the help of isostatic pressing
2. Hydrogen gas dissolution in liquid metal under the action of
pressure
3. Metal power pressurization by leaching powder
4. Hollow sphere sintering proceeded by dehydration
5. Foam agent cooling in metal by pressure control
6. Wax mould forming
7. Bubbling of gas through metal
8. Collection of metal powder with foam agent proceeded by
heating
9. Deposition in vapour phase