Microstructural Effects on Compressive Behavior and Deformation Band Propagation in Open-Pore Metal Foams

摘要

The mechanical properties of investment casted open-pore metal foams are studied on the example of the binary alloy Al-11Zn. The samples are subjected to two different heat treatments, resulting in a state of high strength and low ductility and a state of lower strength and high ductility. Their effects are investigated by compression testing and are correlated to their micro structure. As recently reported in literature, there exist characteristic differences in the stress-strain behavior. This issue has been researched in the course of the present work in detail. We found that it can be directly related to the formation and propagation of deformation bands, and herein locally occurring plastic deformation events. In particular, we observe strength and ductility of the base material in combination with the morphological structure as the dominating factors for the evolution of deformation in metal foams.