Main process parameters for manufacturing open-cell Zn-22Al-2Cu foams by the centrifugal infiltration route and mechanical properties

Parameters of centrifugal infiltration process for manufacturing open-cell Zn-22Al-2Cu foams with spherical-shape porosity and different pore sizes from 0.85 to 0.42 mm were experimentally determined. The experimental results showed that the most favorable temperature both of heating of the NaCl preforms and of pouring (or infiltration) was 600 °C, while the minimum centrifugal forces varied for each NaCl particle size of the preform. Minimum centrifugal forces of 11, 16 and 25 N were required to fully form open-cell Zn-22Al-2Cu foams with pore size of 0.85 mm, 0.65 mm and 0.42 mm, respectively. The compressive mechanical properties of the open-cell Zn-22Al-2Cu foams increased when the pore size decreased. The higher mechanical parameters; Elastic modulus E, yield strength σ_y, and plateau stress σ_pl were obtained for the open-cell foam with the smaller pore size (0.42 mm).