The compressive properties of closed-cell aluminum foams with different Mn additions

Closed-cell aluminum foams with different manganese contents were successfully prepared by melt-foaming method. The distribution of Mn elements in the foams and the effects of Mn elements on the compressive properties of aluminum foams were investigated. The results showed that Mn elements were uniformly distributed in the forms of MnO2, Al6Mn intermetallics, Al–Mn solid solution and un-dissolved Mn particles in the cell wall matrix. And Mn elements had an important effect on the quasi-static compressive properties of aluminum foams. The Mn-containing foams possessed much higher micro hardness, compressive strength and energy absorption capacities than commercially pure aluminum foams. In addition, Mn content in the aluminum foams should be controlled in order to obtain good combination of compressive strength and ductile deformation behavior. And the reasons were discussed.