Effect of Organic Space Holder in Fabrication of Cloced-Cell Aluminium Foam

• Published in: Key engineering materials 2013-12, Vol.594-595, p.780-785
• Main Authors: Mohamed, S.H., Idris, Maizlinda Izwana, Ehsan, I.I.Md
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aluminium; Aluminum; Carbamides; Densification; Density; Foams; Porosity; Sintering (powder metallurgy)
• ISSN: 1013-9826; 1662-9795; 1662-9795
• DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.594-595.780

In this work, the closed-cell aluminium foams were fabricated via powder metallurgy route with organic space holder which also known as carbamide (urea). Carbamide was added with aluminium powder at different compositions from 50wt% to 70wt%. Then the influences of sintering temperatures were also investigated at 500°C, 550°C and 600°C. Physical and mechanical tests were conducted on the fabricated closed cell aluminium foam samples. The result showed that the porosity inversely proportional with density, that means the porosity decreases as the density of the foam increased. Also, it was revealed that the highest compressive strength was obtained at sintering temperature of 550°C. However, the compressive strength of the closed-cell aluminium foam decreased at the sintering temperature of 600°C. This is due to the occurrence of oxidation problem. It can be concluded that carbamide can be proposed as one of the organic space holder material in the fabrication of closedcell aluminium foam. Then, the experimental parameters such as sintering temperature, type of space holder and composition gave great influence to the mechanical and physical properties of the fabricated closed-cell aluminium foam.