ALUMINUM FOAM

WHAT is FOAM ALUMINUM?

Foam Aluminum is a composite of high controlled-cell porosity. It is a sandwich structure offering energy absorption, lightweight construction, and thermal barrierinsulation for many applications. (The compacting of a powder mixture of metal and foaming agent to high density and then heating the compacted foam material to a temperature near the metal melting piont.)

APPLICATIONSAPPLIED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE AUTOMOTIVE IDUSTRY:• Firewalls• Kick up panels • Floor panels• Energy Absorbing Bumpers• Door side impact bars• Front crash rails• Space frame components • Roll barsAPPLIED IN MILITARY NEEDS:• Lightweight armor• Mine blast containment• Water-tight doors on shipsAPPLIED FOR RAILROADS:• Locomotive collision posts/cages• Crush buffer zones• Side impact barriers (passenger cars)

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Advantages

Floats in Water

High Specific Stiffness

Mechanical Damping

Sound Insulator

Excellent Energy Absorption

Non-Flammable

(Easily processed by sawing,drilling, and milling, and canbe joined by adhesive bonding, brazing, and TIGand laser welding techniques.)

Disadvantages

Electrical and Thermal conductivities of aluminum foamare reduced, but still in the typical range of metallic materials.

Strength and properties can beTailored by adjusting:

- Specific weight- Alloy composition- Heat treatment- Morphology of pores