Fabrication of foams of A2024 and A7075 and influence of porosity and heat treatment on their mechanical properties

Abstract

Aluminum alloy foams were fabricated through the melt route using aircraft grade aluminum alloy, the compositions of which were equivalent to A2024 and A7075. It became possible to fabricate aluminum foam by the thickening effect of Al-Cu melt caused by adding Zn and Mg. Porosity increased as the TiH₂ decomposition proceeding. After the end of TiH₂ decomposition, the pore coarsened. Cell walls of the fabricated aluminum alloy foams and the thickened master alloy were hardened and strengthened by heat treatment. The first peak stress of the fabricated aluminum alloy foams were improved by heat treatment. The compressive strength of fabricated aluminum alloy foams increased with decreasing porosity.