Aluminium foam with homogeneous, sub-millimetre bubbles. Production via gas injection and investigation of the stabilisation mechanisms

• Applicants: Professor Dr. John Banhart; Dr. Francisco García-Moreno
• Subject Area: Metallurgical, Thermal and Thermomechanical Treatment of Materials ; Synthesis and Properties of Functional Materials
• Term: from 2015 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 282420267

In this project we want to develop a process to produce aluminium based foams via gas injection with a homogeneous pore size distribution. As many different factors play an important role such as temperature, alloy, type, number and form of particles as well as the oxide contents of the gas atmosphere, their influence will be studied systematically. These studies are described in the program in more detail. A further goal is to transfer the knowledge that single films can be stabilized with less or without particles to foams. If this will success, not only the processing and recycling will be improved, but the costs could be reduced, as ceramic particle reinforcement is expensive. This would help to push the market of metallic foams, as the price was almost the limiting factor for applications. But to reach this point, another goal is mandatory: the production of sub millimetre sized bubbles with stable films. Nevertheless, the main goal, beside the production of homogeneous foams, is to describe and understand the stability of liquid metal foams regarding the role of particles and oxide layer based on the experience won for single metallic films.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants