METAL FOAM

Metal foam is a kind of sintered metal material composed of pores and fine cells that occupy a large volume ratio (typically about 75%-95%). These pores can be connected closed cells, called metal foams; they can also be unconnected network structures (open cells), called porous metals, collectively called porous sintered metals or sintered porous metals.

Metal foam has the following thermal and mechanical properties:
1. Light weight (density is 5-15% of solid material)
2. Large exchange area (250-1000m2/m3)
3. Relatively high permeability
4. Relatively high effective thermal conductivity
5. Good thermal shock resistance, high pressure, high temperature, humidity, abrasion, etc.
6. Can absorb mechanical shock and sound well
7. When manufacturing, the pore size and pore occupancy can be controlled
Research and development are under way to take advantage of these properties of metal foams.

Metal foam has three main applications:
1. Building composition;
2. Orthopedics used as prosthetics;
3. Cars are used to increase sound damping, reduce weight, etc.