Metal Foams (Cu/Ni/Al/PE)

Foams are materials with a large number of interfaces- free surfaces- with the potential to show radiation resistance due to ideally unsaturable sink strength represented by free surfaces. Nanocomposites, Nanophase materials, and Nanofoams could be unusually resistant to radiation because radiation-induced point defects cannot accumulate in the presence of the high density of defects sinks provided by interfaces and surfaces in these materials.

Foams are dipped into molten metal, then placed in a vacuum so that the air in the foam’s pores is removed and replaced by the alloy. The foam had pore sizes of about 2mm, that can be tuned to create a stiffer or more flexible material. During testing of its strong material showed an ability to deform when heated above 144 degrees, regain rigidity when cooled, then return to its original shape and strength when reheated.

Amorphous metal foams are highly ductile in compression, and thus offer attractive compromises in mechanical and physical properties between crystalline metallic and ceramic foams. Metal foams have properties that make them suitable for the automotive industry,  in shipbuilding, aerospace industry and civil engineering.