The Manufacture and Characterisation of Reinforced Magnesium Foams

Abstract

In the project introduced here, the manufacture of light‐metal foams based on magnesium are investigated and enhanced. Such foams possess an excellent mass‐volume ratio and are therefore perfectly suited as light and effective reinforcing elements. Apart from other functional properties, their suitability as energy absorbing crash elements is to be particularly emphasised and is the focus of the investigations here. In the case of impact loading, the energy is largely transformed into the work of plastic deformation during a reduction in volume. Although metallic foams themselves possess only low absolute strengths, it is expedient to employ them in the form of material combinations like sandwich structures or composites by integrating additional internal reinforcing elements. The latter approach is pursued in the present project. Both the initial results of the feasibility study and also the metallographic and mechanical investigations for characterising reinforced magnesium foams are presented.

Investigations into Manufacturing Composite Profiles Having Local Magnesium-Foam Reinforcements

“…The manufacture and properties of foamable precursor material. The manufacture of foamable Mg precursor material is carried out using a powder metallurgical method such as that described in detailed in [16]. In the initial phase of this project, the powder blend was pre-compacted and the powder billets (Ø30 mm, length 90 mm) were subsequent extruded using the Institute's own 800 kN laboratory extruder.…”