NOVEL PROCESS FOR HIGH-POROSITY CLOSED-CELL METAL FOAMS PRODUCTION

摘要

Already, several methods for producing high-porosity open-cell metal foams are developed. However, there is no method to produce closed-cell metal foam that has porosity higher than 95%. We therefore developed a novel process for a high-porosity closed-cell metal foam by using a hydro-gel binder. Slurry containing a metal powder an aqueous polymer solution a foaming agent is gelated and thawed in this process. Gelated slurry is re-melting and foaming while heating, and it develop the correct condition for producing a closed cell structure. We applied this method to makeing stainless steel foams, and obtained the closed-cell metal foams with porosities of more than 98%. This method is not limited to produce metal foams, and is applicable to produce ceramics foams. As the example of ceramics foam, 95% porosity alumina foam is obtained.