The Foaming Characteristics Of Aluminum Foam And The Preparation Of Large-size Aluminum Foam

Aluminum foam is a sort of multifunctional composite structure material with porous structure in it,for exmaple the characteristic of specific strength,sound absorbing and power-absorbing . It could have widespread availability in the future because of its unique properties. There are many methods and processes to prepare the al foam, in which the powder compact melting technique(PCM) is outstanding and it has many advantages.In this paper,based on the PCM process, the effects of pre-setting furnace temperature (heating rate), sample temperature and manufacture process of precursor on foaming property of Al foams are studied. In the end, the relationship that among the parameters (especially the pre-setting temperature of furnace and temperature of sample), the foaming behavior and the pore structure has been discussed. Al foams have been produced finally.Pre-setting furnace temperature and sample temperature are significant factors which affect the foaming situation and cell structure of Al foams. The higher the furnace temperature settled, the larger the heating rate and the shorter the time of foaming achieved. In this experiment ,the steel tube can be filled with the precursor. After measuring, all the parameters of samples are ideal.In order to produce the Al foams with big size, the foaming of precursor prepared by heating press method is also studied. The heating press can be divided into two processes, pressing in room temperature and continuous pressing in pre-setting temperature. It's ok that the pressure in room temperature can not less than 300Mpa. The heating time, the pressure and the time of continuous pressing can effect change of the consistency of precursor. The consequence indicate that when the preservation temperature should be 500℃, the pressure is about 280MPa and the continuous pressing time is 20 minutes, it's easier to produce the good sample.According to the principle of standing precusor foaming and the actual characteristic, the idea can be applied to continuous foaming is summarized and the device for continuous foaming is designed and manufactured. In the process, how to make each section of precusor heated uniformity is the most essential factor.