Production of aluminium based metallic foams by space holder technique

The main objective of this study is to investigate the production of aluminum based metallic foams by using both lost and non-disappear type space holder. Two different methods were used in the experiments. First, water soluble space holder materials (NaCl, Na2CO3, K2CO3) and powder metallurgy technique were used. Second, non-disappear type space holder material (expanded silica gel) and vacuum casting technique were used. Density and plastic collapse stress were measured depending on the production parameters of the foam. Microstructural development of the samples were also investigated by using SEM techniques.As a conclusion, it was decided that the properties of the samples which were produced by powder metallurgy technique was strongly depends on the production parameters and the solubility rate of the lost space holder type. Aluminum based foam samples which have controllable properties were successfully produced by using vacuum casting technique with non-disappear type space holder.