METAL FOAMS

What Metal Foams are: These are metals that have a bone marrow type structure, much like an aero bar. Metals that can be used in this form are Aluminium a majority of the time, with titanium and tantalum being the others used in less frequent times. The reason why metal foams are used are they are the fraction of the weight of normal metal and have very high strength. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woiTqVbqpG0

Contents During this slide show we will cover: The beginnings of metal foams How metal foams are made The properties of metal foams The engineering applications of metal foams The advantages of metal foams compared to other materials Why metal foams are used A modern and future innovation

The Beginnings of Metal Foams The idea and concept of metal foams go back to the 1950’s where they were intended for the Aerospace and Automotive industries. There was a need to create lighter aircraft that would be easier to manoeuvre, more economical to run and still to have the same metallic properties of strength that would be as normally used metallic structures.

How Metal Foams are Made This is achieved by creating gas bubbles in the molten metal by: Injecting gas into the liquid / molten metal from an external source Causing the precipitation (falling down) of gas that had just been dissolved in the liquid Causing an in-situ gas formation in the liquid by admixing gas-releasing blowing agents to the melt

The Properties of Metal Foams Ultralight material (75–95% of the volume consists of void spaces) Very high porosity High compression strengths combined with good energy absorption characteristics Thermal conductivity is low High strength Can provide light weight radiation shielding Has potential for giving sound absorption

The Engineering Applications of Metal Foams The closed variety is used for structural applications requiring load-bearing features, and for weight-saving and impact-absorbing structures in vehicles The open variety is ideal for vibration and sound absorption, filtration and catalysis at high temperatures, for heat exchange and in medical devices. The open variety is also useful in functional applications such as filtration and damping.

The Engineering Applications of Metal Foams Foam metal is being used as an experimental prosthetic in animals. Metal foams with high strengths can act as high-capacity impact-energy absorbers. Automotive industry - the foams reduce the number of parts in the car frame, facilitate assembly, thereby reducing costs and improving performance.

Advantages of Using Metal Foams? Over to you now wiseguys…………….

Disadvantages of Using Metal Foams? Over to you wiseguys once again…………….

Why Are Metal Foams Used Again…………….

Boeing: Lightest. Metal. Ever. The following short youtube video will speak about a metal form that has been developed for applications where both strength and weight are just as important as each other, and to be utilised in the aerospace field: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6N_4jGJADY

REFERENCES: http://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=8097 http://www.scientific.net/KEM.543.125 http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/technology/metallic_foam.html http://www.chriscarey.co.uk/a&e_materials.pdf http://www.theengineer.co.uk/metal-foam-provides-lightweight-radiation- shielding/ http://materialsknowledge.org/docs/Banhart-talk2.pdf http://www.science20.com/futuro/metal_foam_could_build_better_bones_car_ bumpers