Metal foams are quite a challenge to materials scientists due to their difficult manufacturing. In all processes the foam develops in the liquid or semiliquid state. Liquid-metal foams are complex fluids which contain liquid metals, solid particles and gas bubbles at the same time. An X-ray transparent furnace was developed to monitor liquid metal foam evolution. Aluminium foams - similar to the commercial Metcomb~® foams - were produced by feeding argon or air gas bubbles into an aluminium composite melt. The foam evolution was observed in-situ by X-ray radioscopy under normal gravity. Drainage and rupture were evaluated during the 5 min foam decay and 2 min solidification. Argon blown foams showed significant drainage and cell wall rupture during the first 20 s of foam decay. Air blown foams were stable and neither drainage nor rupture occurred. We demonstrated the feasibility of experiments during parabolic flight or drop tower campaigns. However, the development of a foam generator for low gravity is needed.
展开▼