Assessing the influence of four cutting methods on the thermal contact resistance of open-cell aluminum foam

The application of open-cell aluminum foam often involves a cutting operation to the desired shape and dimensions. Depending on the applied cutting method, this operation can result in a significantly different contact surface area between the foam and a substrate, and a substantial plastic deformation of the struts near the cutting plane. Both are characterised for four cutting methods: circular saw, band saw, sawing wire and electron discharge machining. The first two methods result in a significant local compression. No compression is observed with the other two methods. However, the eroding nature of electron discharge machining results in blunt strut-ends which minimise the contact surface area. The highest contact surface area is obtained with a sawing wire cut.