Aluminium foaming using a CO 2 laser

Abstract

This paper explores the possibility of laser assisted aluminium foaming from a foamable precursor material. A preliminary study of the experimental results shows a unidirectional and localised expansion of the foam. A pore size gradient and a density gradient exist in the structure as the processing conditions change. The foam has large pores and lower density for slow processing speeds, in contrast to the case of fast processing speed where there is a small pore size but higher density. On the top surface as the melt collapses, there is a closure of pores.