Fabrication and experimental investigation of metal grid structure-reinforced aluminum foams

This paper put forward an innovative approach for fabricating reinforced aluminum foams through melt foaming method, where the metal grid structure (MGS) was used as a structural skeleton. Samples with a density ranging from 0.31 to 0.56 g/cm3 were fabricated and presented uniform bubbles. The major surface of MGS was covered with a layer of alloy matrix. Compression tests revealed that the compressive plateau phase was transformed into three small phases, where two slight peaks as well as three valleys were detected. In addition, the maximum compressive stress and energy absorption capacity were improved dramatically especially in low-density samples.