Recent Trends in Aluminum Foam Sandwich Technology

Abstract

We review the status of aluminum foam sandwich (AFS) technology and discuss both recent improvements of foaming technology and current application strategies. It is concluded that the quality of foams has improved in the past years but the costs are still very much the same. This is why applications in which metal foams have more than one function are more likely to be economically viable. The examples presented include electromagnetic shielding, carrier plates for mirrors, cooking equipment, architectural panels, and blast protection. 1082 wileyonlinelibrary.com ß

Joining of Aluminium Alloy Sheets to Aluminium Alloy Foam Using Metal Glasses

“…The current practice of AFS components joining using adhesives and solders restrict the applications of AFS composite panels in the range 220 • C-380 • C. The fabrication of AFS composite panels for higher service temperatures requires alternative joining methods and materials, which is focused in this study. The AFS obtained by brazing the facing sheets to the core can meet the heat resistance, stability at elevated temperatures and non-flammability requirements, which are not satisfied when the facing sheets are joined to the core by an adhesive or a solder alloy [7].…”

“…The melting temperature of the most common foamable precursor alloy (AlSi 6 Cu 4 or AlSi 6 Cu 6 ) is 524 • C which can be coupled with 1xxx, 3xxx, 5xxx, and 6xxx series Al-alloys face sheets to produce AFS panels by foaming technique [7]. The solubility of Mg, Cu, and Ti in solid aluminium, by weight, is 17.4% at 460 • C, 5.65% at 548 • C, and 1.3% at 665 • C, respectively [8], and their addition suppresses the melting point of the aluminium-based alloy and/or precursor.…”

Diffusion bonding in fabrication of aluminum foam sandwich panels

“…A properly designed AFS panels can optimize the mechanical and functional properties much more efficiently; in particular they have good inflammable, heat resistance, excellent vibration damping and high flexural rigidity, etc. (Banhart, 2001;Banhart and Seeliger, 2012). Due to the excellent mechanical and physical performances compared with aluminum foams, AFS panels have more promising application prospects, for example, the possibilities for making lightweight structure components in aerospace (Schwingel et al, 2007), automotive (Ashby et al, 2000;Banhart, 2005), and shipbuilding industry (Crupi et al, 2013).…”

Simulation of Apparent Elastic Property in the Two-Dimensional Model of Aluminum Foam Sandwich Panels

“…1,2) Aluminum Foam Sandwich (AFS) panels, due to its excellent properties such as light weight, high strengthto-weight and stiffness-to-weight ratios and good energyabsorbing capacity, and so on, have been developed into a novel structural material which has broad application in aerospace, shipbuilding, electronics, automobile sectors, construction fields and other fields. 3,4) So far, many studies have been conducted on the properties of AFS panels. Harte et al 5) presented a study about AFS panels tested in cyclic four point bend, and determined SN fatigue curves for the failure modes of face fatigue, core shear and core indentation.…”