SiC-particulate aluminum composite foams produced from powder compacts: foaming and compression behavior

The foaming behavior of SiC-particulate (SiCp) aluminum composite powder compacts containing titanium hydride blowing agent was investigated by heating to 750◦C in a pre-heated furnace. Aluminum powder compacts were also prepared and foamed using similar compaction and foaming parameters in order to determine the effect of SiCp-addition on the foaming and compression behavior. The SiCp-addition (10 wt%) was found to increase the linear expansion of the Al powder compacts presumably by increasing the surface as well as the bulk viscosities. The compression tests conducted on Al and 10 and 20% SiCp foams further showed a more brittle compression behavior of SiCp/Al foams as compared with Al foams. The collapse stresses of Al and 10% SiCp/Al foams were also predicted using the equations developed for the open and closed cell foams. Predictions have shown that Al foam samples behaved similar to open cell foams, while 10% SiCp/Al foam collapse stress values were found between those of open and closed cell foams, biasing towards those of the open cell foams. C 2006 Springer Science + Business Media, Inc.