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Metal Foams: A Design Guide

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a) Preform<br />

Polymer<br />

ligaments<br />

d) Remove<br />

mold<br />

material<br />

c) Infiltrate<br />

SOLIDIFICATION IN OPEN CELL MOLD<br />

b) Burnout<br />

Casting slurry (sand) H 2O CO<br />

Open<br />

channels<br />

Mold<br />

material<br />

Pressure<br />

Molten metal<br />

Making metal foams 13<br />

<strong>Metal</strong><br />

ligaments<br />

Figure 2.5 Investment casting method used to manufacture open cell foams<br />

(DUOCEL process)<br />

An open-cell polymer foam mold template with the desired cell size and<br />

relative density is first selected. This can be coated with a mold casting<br />

(ceramic powder) slurry which is then dried and embedded in casting sand.<br />

The mold is then baked both to harden the casting material and to decompose<br />

(and evaporate) the polymer template, leaving behind a negative image of<br />

the foam. This mold is subsequently filled with a metal alloy and allowed to<br />

cool. The use of a moderate pressure during melt infiltration can overcome the<br />

resistance to flow of some liquid alloys. After directional solidification and

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