Abstract
In order to experimentally elucidate foam stabilizing factors in aluminum foam fabrication, the contribution of solid particles in the liquid to increasing viscosity and stabilizing foam was investigated using both solution and aluminum melt. Regardless of the type liquid, the wettability and shape of solid particle showed opposite effects between thickening and foam stability. Even though a poor wettable particle contributes effectively to enhancing the liquid viscosity, the particle leads to the collapse of the foam cell because it acts like a notch in terms of foam stabilization, because of poor energy balance at the interface between solid and liquid. For this reason, it is important to take into account not only the relative viscosity but also the physical properties of solid particle for the fabrication of fine aluminum foams.
