Composite metal foam and methods of preparation thereof
AssigneeNorth Carolina State University
InventorAfsaneh Rabiei
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to composite metal foams comprising hollow metallic spheres and a solid metal matrix. The composite metal foams show high strength, particularly in comparison to previous metal foams, while maintaining a favorable strength to density ratio. The composite metal foams can be prepared by various techniques, such as powder metallurgy and casting.
Claims31
A composite metallic foam comprising a plurality of hollow metallic pieces and a solid metal matrix around the hollow metallic pieces.
A method of preparing a composite metallic foam comprising:
- placing a plurality of hollow metallic pieces in a mold;
- and
- filling the spaces around the hollow metallic pieces with a metal matrix-forming material.
A method of preparing a composite metallic foam comprising:
- placing a plurality of hollow metallic pieces in a mold;
- filling the spaces around the hollow metallic pieces with a matrix-forming metal powder;
- and
- heating the mold to a sintering temperature, thereby forming a solid metal matrix around the hollow metallic pieces.
A method of preparing a composite metallic foam comprising:
- placing a plurality of hollow metallic pieces in a mold;
- casting a matrix-forming liquid metal into the mold, thereby filling the spaces around the hollow metallic pieces;
- and
- solidifying the liquid metal, thereby forming a solid metal matrix around the hollow metallic pieces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.