Comparison between the process–structure–property relationships of silica foams prepared through two different processing routes

Cellular silica with improved framework, crosslinking, and stability properties are desirable for applications in thermal insulation. A process for the preparation of cellular silica foam with interconnected cells with tailored porosity and pore size distribution has been attempted. The silica foams have been prepared through two different methods; surfactant- and particle-based stabilization. The silica foams prepared through two different processes namely surfactant-stabilized foams (SSF) and particle-stabilized foams (PSF) have exhibited a wide range of differences in their structure which in turn have shown to affect the final properties of the foam. The cell size distributions in SSF (89 vol% porosity) and PSF (85 vol% porosity) have been found in the range of 50–250 μm (monomodal) and 4–10 μm and 50–100 μm (bimodal), respectively, whereas the cell counts of both have been found in close proximity. The microstructure of both the sintered SSF as well as PSF samples foams have shown an open and interconnected porosity with the permeability of both in the region of ~10⁻⁸ m². The mechanical (compressive) strength and Young’s modulus of the PSF are a third of that in SSF. The structure–property relationship of both the SSF and PSF and their comparison have been discussed.     

Aluminium foam–polymer composites: processing and characteristics

Dissemination of closed cell metal foam unique properties (low density, efficient energy absorption, high vibration/sound attenuation) in real life products has often been difficult to realise. With advanced pore morphology (APM) aluminium foam–polymer hybrids a new and simplified process route targeted at application in foam-filled structures (e.g. automotive A-pillar) has been introduced. APM foams are made from spherical, small volume foam elements joined to each other in a separate process step. Joining the aluminium foam elements by adhesive bonding delivers composite foam with approximately 80–95 wt.% aluminium foam and 5–20 wt.% adhesive (polymer). Setting up cellular structures from spherical foam elements allows for automatic part production, good pore morphology control and cost effective aluminium foam application. An automated production line is displayed and discussed. Mechanical properties of APM aluminium foam–polymer hybrids are similar to other closed cell aluminium foams. Integration of APM foams in profiles resulted in significantly improved properties as observed for conventional closed cell aluminium foam fillings. The unique properties of APM composite foams make them an attractive alternative as a cost effective and easily applicable material of construction with targeted uses such as energy absorbing reinforcement of composite structures.     

Processing of sucrose to low density carbon foams

A novel process for preparation low density carbon foams from sucrose has been demonstrated. A resin prepared by heating aqueous acidic sucrose solution when heated in an open Teflon mould at 120 °C undergoes foaming and then setting in to a solid organic foam. The solid organic foam undergoes carbonization in air by dehydration at 250 °C under isothermal condition. Carbon foams thus obtained sintered at temperature in the range 600–1,400 °C showed density in the range 115–145 mg/cc and electrical conductivity in the range 1.5 × 10⁻⁵ to 0.2 ohm⁻¹ cm⁻¹, respectively. The carbon foams contain spherical cells of size in the range 450–850 μm and the cells are interconnected through circular or oval shape windows of size in the range 80–300 μm. The carbon foam samples sintered at 1,400 °C showed compressive strength of 0.89 MPa.     

含油制冷剂在泡沫金属圆管内流动沸腾的换热特性

实验研究了填充泡沫金属的圆管内制冷剂与润滑油混合物流动沸腾换热特性。实验对象为两根分别填充5PPI、90%孔隙率与10PPI、90%孔隙率泡沫铜的圆管,以及相同管径的光管。实验工况为蒸发压力995kPa,质流密度为10~30 kg/(m2.s),热流密度为3.1~9.3kW/m2,入口干度0.175~0.775,油浓度为0~5%。实验结果表明:纯制冷剂工况下,泡沫金属的存在强化流动沸腾换热,换热系数最多提高185%;含油工况下,泡沫金属强化换热的效果弱化;相同工况下,更小的孔径可以提高流动沸腾换热系数,相比5PPI泡沫金属的实验数据,10PPI的泡沫金属可以使换热系数最多提高0.6倍。基于流型建立了填充泡沫金属的圆管内制冷剂与润滑油流动沸腾换热系数的预测模型,预测模型与98%的实验数据误差在±30%以内。     

Novel polymer–metal based method for open cell metal foams production

Abstract

Metal foams have acquired popular interest in recent years and are potentially useful for many applications due to their light weight, high specific stiffness, high surface to volume ratio, and adjustable cell structure. Here, current methods of producing metal foams are briefly reviewed. The requirements for high porosity metal foams with open cells are discussed. A novel powder metallurgy route involving a polymeric vehicle is introduced that can readily generate open cell foams with porosity greater than 90%. Coarse Ti powder and fine carbonyl iron powder were tested. Although the resulting polymer metal foam was closed cell, particles were not retained in the windows. Upon pyrolysis to remove the resin, the windows opened and the final sintered metal foam was highly reticulated. Such foams offer a fine reticulated structure with cell diameters in the region of 100–200 µm, and may find applications in the areas of catalysis, biomaterials, and composites.     

Aluminium foams for transport industry

Foamed materials are widespread in transportation industry applications. While polymeric foams have been applied for many years foamed metals are now beginning to move into the focus of interest. A powder metallurgical method which allows the production of aluminium foams with porosity levels up to 90% is described. The foams typically have closed pores and densities ranging from 0.4 to 1 g cm⁻³, so that this foamed metals float on water. The unique mechanical properties of metal foams are described. The density dependence of metal foam properties is shown with the Young's modulus, flexural strength and compression strength as examples. A non-linear dependency of these properties on the density is found and discussed. The discussion then focuses on the energy absorption properties of aluminium foams and tools to select appropriate foams for a given energy absorption task.     

Simulative Determination of Effective Mechanical Properties for Digitally Generated Foam Geometries

Metal foams constitute a promising and emerging material class in the context of lightweight construction. There exists a variety of different foam topologies, on which resulting mechanical properties depend. To maximize the potential of foams in material use under mechanical load, the present work addresses the question how different geometrical parameters influence the material behaviour. Therefore, an algorithm for digital generation and design of open pore foam structures is presented, that allows to regulate the geometry precisely. A method for retrieving effective mechanical properties from numerical simulations of compression tests in the elastic regime is introduced. Additionally, the representativeness of foam volumes considered for simulations is investigated. This yields a fully digital workflow, which enables the investigation of geometry influence on mechanical properties. This approach is used to conduct simulation studies on generated foam structures with a systematic variation of geometrical parameters. Herein, a range of effective Young's moduli varying by up to a factor of 1.3 for different foam structures at the same porosity is found. This shows a significant impact of the foam geometry on the elastic properties of metal foams. The presented methodology yields insights, which can guide design and optimization of materials for specific applications.     

Experimental Investigation on Steel Foams Fabricated by Sintering-Dissolution Process

This article describes a new process to manufacture open-cell steel foams. Calcium chloride anhydrous is used as a space holder. By changing the values of the main manufacturing parameters such as volume percentage, and the size and shape of the space holder, we produce different steel foam samples which cover a wide range of solid fraction, pore size, and shape. The effects of space-holder content and sintering condition such as temperature and time on the porosity of steel foam samples are discussed. The microstructure and composition of steel foam samples are observed and analyzed by scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction. The compressive curves of steel foams are measured by a universal testing machine. The experiment results show the compressive strength of steel foam samples with porosities between 65% and 85% is in the range of 66.4 ～ 12.9 MPa. The compressive strength depends mainly on the porosity and pore shape. The absorbed energy per unit volume (W) of steel foams with porosities between 85% and 65% is in range of 6.8 ～ 31.2 MJ/m³. Under the condition of identical porosity, the absorbed energy per unit volume (W) of steel foam is about three times of aluminum foam. In compression, steel foam specimens show heterogeneous macroscopic deformation.     

410L和430L泡沫钢性能的比较

以410L和430L不锈钢粉为基体,以CaCl₂为造孔剂,采用粉末冶金烧结溶解法制备出不同孔隙率的410L和430L泡沫钢并分析比较其组织和性能。结果表明：410L和430L泡沫钢的基体组织都是α-Fe;在相同的腐蚀条件下430L不锈钢的抗腐蚀性更强;在烧结过程中410L泡沫钢孔壁表面的氧化程度比430L泡沫钢严重;在准静态压缩变形过程中孔隙率为73%~83%的410L泡沫钢屈服应力为22.06~5.45 MPa,相同孔隙率的430L泡沫钢其屈服应力为56.77~10.44 MPa,430L泡沫钢的抗压强度是410L泡沫钢的2~3倍;应变量为50%时,孔隙率为73%~83%的410L泡沫钢单位体积的能量吸收值为6.12~2.90 MJ/m³。应变量为50%时,孔隙率为72%~83%的430L泡沫钢其单位体积的能量吸收值为40.35~8.25 MJ/m³。430L泡沫钢的单位体积能量吸收值约为410L泡沫钢的3~5倍。     

Mechanical characterization of dense calcium phosphate bioceramics with interconnected porosity

Porous hydroxyapatite/tricalcium phosphate (HA/TCP) bioceramics were fabricated by a novel technique of vacuum impregnation of reticulated polymeric foams with ceramic slip. The samples had approximately 5–10% interconnected porosity and controlled pore sizes appropriate to allow bone ingrowth, combined with good mechanical properties. A range of polyurethane foams with 20, 30 and 45 pores per inch (ppi) were used as templates to produce samples for testing. The foams were inpregnated with solid loadings in the range of 60–140 wt%. The results indicated that the average apparent density of the HA/TCP samples was 2.48 g/cm³, the four-point bending strength averaged 16.98 MPa, the work of fracture averaged 15.46 J/m² and the average compressive strength was 105.56 MPa. A range of mechanical properties resulted from the various combinations of different grades of PU foam and the solid loading of slips. The results indicated that it is possible to manufacture open pore HA/TCP bioceramics, with compressive strengths comparable to human bone, which could be of significant clinical interest.     

Numerical prediction of the foam structure of polymeric materials by direct 3D simulation of their expansion by chemical reaction based on a multidomain method

The quality of thermosetting polymer foams (like polyurethane foam, used for example in automotive industry) mainly depends on the manufacturing process. At a mesoscopic scale, the foam can be modelled by the expansion of gas bubbles in a polymer matrix with evolutionary rheological behaviour. The initial bubbles correspond to germs, which are supposed quasi-homogeneously distributed in the polymer. An elementary foam volume (∼1 mm³) is phenomenologically modelled by a diphasic medium (polymer and immiscible gas bubbles). The evolution of each component is governed by equations resulting from thermodynamics of irreversible processes: the relevant state variables in gas, resulting from chemical reaction creating carbon dioxide (assimilated then to a perfect gas), are pressure, temperature and conversion rate of the reaction. The number of gas moles in each bubble depends on this conversion rate. The foam is considered as a shear-thinning viscous fluid, whose rheological parameters evolve with the curing reaction, depending on the process conditions (temperature, pressure). A mixed finite element method with multidomain approach is developed to simulate the average growth rate of the foam during its manufacture and to characterize the influence of the manufacturing conditions (or initial rheological behaviour of the components) on macroscopic parameters of the foam (cell size, heterogeneity of porosity, wall thickness).     

A study of fabricating and compressive properties of cellular Al–Si (355.0) foam using TiH2

Al–Si (355.0) alloy foam has been produced by Alporas method (in which foam alloy melts, and titanium hydride is used as a blowing agent). Mechanical behavior such as quasi-static compression (strain–stress curves, energy absorption capacity), also the effects of thermal properties on the macroscopic structure of the produced foam were investigated. In addition, the effect of energy absorption capacity on percentage porosity has also been studied. The research shows that the produced foam with an average cell size and proper distribution has a more mechanical stability compared to the foams with no such characteristics. It was found that yield strength tends to increase from 12.51 MPa for porosity 74.0% to 22.32 MPa for porosity 54.0%. This foam has also been compared with other foams such as Al-pure foam and Mg foam. It can be stated that Al–Si (355.0) foam has a higher yield strength in comparison to Al-pure foam and Mg foam.     

Fabrication of ferrous metallic foams by reduction of ceramic foam precursors

A process has been developed for obtaining closed cell metallic foams using a ceramic foam precursor. In the present study, the major constituent of the ceramic foam precursor was iron oxide (Fe₂O₃), which was mixed with various foaming/setting additives. The mixture set rapidly at room temperature, stabilizing the foam generated by hydrogen release. The oxide foam was then reduced by annealing at 1240^∘C in a non-flammable hydrogen/inert gas mixture to obtain a metallic foam with a relative density of 0.23 ± 0.017, and an average cell diameter of 1.32 ± 0.32 mm. The iron foams were tested in compression and yielded an average compressive strength of 29 ± 7 MPa. The compressive stress-strain curves obtained were typical of cellular metals. The normalized strengths of the metal foams obtained in the present study compare favorably with those of steel foams produced by other techniques.     

蛋白发泡法制备泡沫陶瓷固化工艺研究

选用蛋清蛋白作为发泡剂, 采用蛋白发泡法制备了高孔隙率的泡沫氮化硅陶瓷. 设计了三种不同固化工艺: 常压固化、恒压固化和高压固化, 固化气压依次升高, 研究了固化气压对泡沫陶瓷开孔率、孔隙形貌和孔径分布的影响. 其中, 恒压固化制品的平均孔径和开孔率最高, 分别为210 μm和78.6%, 且孔径分布比较均匀, 常压固化次之, 高压固化制品开孔率和平均孔径最低. 常压和恒压固化制品为椭球形孔洞, 有一定的排列取向, 而高压固化制品多为规则的球形孔. 随着固化气压的升高, 制品孔壁厚度增加, 高压固化制品的孔壁厚度最高, 其压缩强度接近50 MPa.     

基于常温干燥法的纤维素基泡沫制备及性能分析

传统的石油基泡沫难以降解,因而带来环境污染和安全问题。纤维素基泡沫借助其可生物降解的天然特性,逐渐成为研究热点。然而,目前的成型技术在很大程度上依赖于干燥条件（如冷冻干燥和超临界干燥）,存在干燥耗时长、成本高的问题,因而难以实现泡沫的规模化生产。为解决此问题,提出一种常温干燥制备可再生纤维素基泡沫的新方法。以纸浆纤维为主料、纳米纤维素为黏结剂、聚乙烯醇作为纤维分散剂和泡沫助剂,经过充分混合、发泡、排水和干燥后,制成纤维素基泡沫。最后,测试泡沫密度、孔隙率,分析导热性能、力学性能。结果表明：制备的纤维素基泡沫具有密度低（(0.015±0.002)~(0.028±0.004) g/cm3）、孔隙率高（>98%）、热导率低（(0.060±0.003)~(0.069±0.003) W/(m·K)）等特点。纤维素基泡沫在80%应变下的最大应力值为59.366 kPa,比其他文献报道的类似纳米纤维素基泡沫高37.1%。未来,纤维素基泡沫有望替代石油基泡沫,在冷链运输过程中对产品进行缓冲保护和隔热保温。     

Deformation characteristics of metal foams

The deformation behaviour of a series of aluminium and zinc foams was investigated by uniaxial testing. Because the deformation behaviour of metal foams is expected to be anisotropic owing to the existence of a closed outer skin and with respect to the foaming direction, a series of measurements was carried out where the orientation of the outer skin and the foaming direction were varied. Stress–strain diagrams and corresponding compression strengths were determined for aluminium- and zinc-based foams. The influence of an age-hardening heat treatment was investigated. Finally, the axial deformation behaviour of aluminium tubes filled with aluminium foam was tested under uniaxial loading conditions. The results of the measurements are discussed in the context of possible applications of metal foams as energy absorbers. © 1998 Chapman & Hall     

Mechanical and physical characterization of copper foam

A lost carbonate sintering process in powder metallurgy has been used to prepare copper foam of low to medium porosities with controlled pore size, shape, and distribution. The compressive properties of the copper foams have been investigated for different metal volume fractions ranging from 15–100%. The elastic moduli measurements in good agreement with Mori-Tanaka predictions for the two-phase mixtures. The microstructure, the electrical resistivity, and the thermal conductivity were also studied.     

Manufacture of biodegradable packaging foams from agar by freeze-drying

Cellular foams were made from the aqueous solution of agar by freeze-drying. A narrow range (5–20°C min-1) of freezing rate was required to avoid damage to the microstructure of the agar foams. The size of cells in the foam decreased with increasing freezing rate. Agar foams of more than 4 wt% agar content absorbed more energy than a polystyrene foam in compression tests. Foams with a higher agar content absorbed more energy. The behaviour of agar foams in compression tests could be explained by the modified beam theory for cellular foams. Agar foams were thermally stable up to 200°C, and were also stable in a humid environment. This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

相变装置中填充泡沫金属的传热强化分析

通过对泡沫金属结构的分析,将泡沫金属结构简化为二维的循环扩展六边形网格形式,且传热单元被分为九个导热层。在此基础上以热阻分析推导出了在泡沫金属作为填充材料时其整体有效导热系数Koff与泡沫金属空隙率ε之间的数学关系式。分别以泡沫铜、泡沫铝填充石蜡为例与用铜、铝翅片并联和串联两种方式填充石蜡时的有效导热系数进行了计算对比,从计算结果可以明显看出采用泡沫金属作为填充材料,其整体效果要优于翅片,可显著改善相变储能装置的传热性能及储能效率。     

Resistance network-based thermal conductivity model for metal foams

A network model for the estimation of effective thermal conductivity of open-celled metal foams is presented. A nodal network representation of three aluminum foam samples from DUOCEL – 10 ppi, 20 ppi and 40 ppi – is constructed out of X-ray microtomography data obtained by computed tomography (CT) scanning of the samples using a commercial CT scanner. Image processing and 3D skeletonization are performed with commercially available image processing software. The effective thermal conductivity is estimated through a 1D conduction model, representing individual ligaments as an effective thermal resistance using the topological information from the scan data. The effective thermal conductivity data thus obtained are compared with the Lemlich theory and other pore-based models. Further, microstructural characterization of foam features – pore size, ligament thickness, ligament length and pore shapes – is performed. All the three foam samples are observed to have similar pore shapes and volumetric porosity, while the other features scale with the pore size. For a given porosity the computed permeability is found to scale as the square of the pore diameter, as also noted by previous researchers.