• Metal Foam Synonyms:

Foam metal, metal foam, porous metal, cellular solids, cellular metal, closed cell porosity, cellular metallic material, sintered porous structures, syntactic foam, porous metal, cellular solids, cellular metal, closed cell porosity, Alumina foam, Aluminum foam, Carbon foam, Cobalt foam, Cobalt-chromium alloy foam, Copper foam, Graphite foam, Hafnium Over Carbon foam, Iron foam, Iron-chromium alloy foam, Lead foam, Molybdenum foam, Nickel foam, Nickel-chromium alloy foam, Nickel-chromium aluminum alloy foam, Nickel- copper alloy foam, Niobium Over Carbon foam, Rhenium Over Carbon foam, Stainless steel foam, Tantalum Over Carbon foam, Tin foam, Titanium foam, Tungsten Over Carbon foam, Zinc foam, Zirconium Over Carbon foam, 

•  Metal Foam Description:

1) A metal foam is a cellular structure consisting of a solid metal, frequently aluminium, containing a large volume fraction of gas-filled pores. The pores can be sealed (closed-cell foam), or they can form an interconnected network (open-cell foam). The defining characteristic of metal foams is a very high porosity: typically 75-95% of the volume consists of void spaces. The strength of foamed metal possesses a power law relationship to its density; i.e., a 20% dense material is more than twice as strong as a 10% dense material.

2) Metallic foams typically retain some physical properties of their base material. Foam made from non-flammable metal will remain non-flammable and the foam is generally recyclable back to its base material. Coefficient of thermal expansion will also remain similar while conductivity will likely be reduced.

• Metal Foams Available from READE

1)    Alumina foam

2)   Aluminum foam

3)   Carbon foam

4)   Cobalt foam

5)   Cobalt- Chromium alloy foam

6)   Copper foam

7)   Graphite foam

8)   Hafnium Over Carbon foam

9)   Iron foam

10)  Iron- chromium alloy foam

11)  Lead foam

12)  Molybdenum foam

13)  Nickel foam

14)  Nickel- chromium alloy foam

15)  Nickel- chromium aluminum alloy foam

16)  Nickel- copper alloy foam

17) Niobium Over Carbon foam

18) Rhenium Over Carbon foam

19) Stainless steel foam

20) Tantalum Over Carbon foam

21) Tin foam

22) Titanium foam

23) Tungsten Over Carbon foam

24) Zinc foam

25) Zirconium Over Carbon foam

• Foam Metal Popular Manufacturing Techniques:

1) Several techniques are used to produce engineering (structural) foams. With the exception of syntactic foams and self-foamed materials such as foam glass, these materials are produced using a foamed polymer as the starting material.

2) From these economical precursors, three processing routes have been established for the production of ceramic and metallic foams. Ceramic foams can be produced by dipping the polymer foam in a slurry containing an appropriate binder and ceramic phases, followed by pressure less sintering at elevated temperatures.

3) A second process used to make metallic foams utilizes an electroless process for the deposition of a metal onto the polymer foam precursor via electrolytic deposition.

4) A third process begins with the pyrolysis of the thermosetting polymer foam to obtain a carbonaceous foam skeleton. These carbonaceous foam materials are themselves attractive for many aerospace and industrial applications, including thermal insulation, impact absorption, catalyst support, and metal and gas filtration. They are thermally stable, low in weight and density, and are chemically pure; they have low thermal expansion, resist thermal stress and shock, and are relatively inexpensive.

5) Closed-cell foam structures look very similar to a cellulose kitchen sponge; each cell is separated from another cell by thin walls of metal. Open-cell foam structures look very similar to a loofah sponge; the "holes" vary in size depending on the desired application.

• Foam Metal Typical Applications:

Energy absorption, filtration, sound suppression, magnetic shielding, vibration damping, stiff lightweight panels, thermal insulation barriers, medical implants, storage media, fuel cells, and heat exchangers

• Foam Metal Packaging:

Usually to a customers specification

• Foam Metal TSCA (SARA Title III) Status:

Varies. For further information please call the E.P.A. at +1.202.554.1404

• Foam Metal Page Last Updated:

2 April 2012