Deformation of open-cell aluminum foam

The mechanical properties of high-purity aluminum foams produced by replica tion from salt precursors are measured in compression. These foams have hom ogeneous open-porosity, cell sizes equivalent to the particle size of the p recursor salt (similar to 500 mum in this case) and relative densities near 25%. Deformation is uniform and strain hardening similar to the bulk mater ial is observed without a plateau stress. A simple analytical model based o n beam theory is employed to describe the flow stress and the change in sti ffness of the foams as a consequence of compression. This model leads to a modified scaling law for the flow stress of metallic foams. (C) 2001 Acta M aterialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd, All rights reserved.