engleski

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF ALUMINIUM FOAM AFTER HEAT TREATMENT AND REINFORCING

The strengthening effects of the aluminium foam parts by different methods: foam profiles with dense skin, foamed hollow profiles-sandwiches, reinforced with expanded metal sheet grid and age hardened, have been discussed. The aim of this investigation was to compare hardness, maximum bending force and absorbed energy at bending after different cycles of heat treatment of the foamed round profile of relatively ductile Al Mg1Si0.6 alloy. For comparison, the two groups of reinforced foamed specimens with stainless steel grid or with stainless steel wires have been also manufactured and tested. The specimens were manufactured by foaming the precursor chips (AlMg1Si0.6 with about 0.4 wt.% TiH2) into mould. Three point bending test was carried out and the maximum bending load and deflection have been determined and compared with each other and also with “as foamed” condition. Additionally, the microhardness and absorbed energy at bending have been determined. The testing confirms the previous results that the ageing increases hardness. The specimens that were cooled in water and only warm aged show the same effects as by conventional treatment - homogenisation and warm ageing. The reinforced foam with stainless steel grid and wires gave about 10 time higher deflection and absorbed energy than as-foamed and age hardened specimens.

aluminium foam; mechanical properties; reinforcing; ageing

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