Effect of heat treatment on compressive properties of open cell Al/Al 2 O 3 composite foams

Abstract

The sintering and dissolution process was used to produce open cell Al/Al₂O₃ composite foams with a relative density of 0·25–0·40 and a pore size of 112–400 μm. The compressive properties of as fabricated and T6 heat treated Al/Al₂O₃ composite foams were investigated. After T6 heat treatment, the yield strength of the open cell Al/Al₂O₃ composite foams is increased relative to the untreated material. T6 heat treatment gives rise to a mean 36% increase in the compression yield strength of the open cell Al/Al₂O₃ composite foams. The yield strength of as fabricated and T6 heat treated Al/Al₂O₃ composite foams shows a significant dependence on the relative density and also exhibits a distinct dependence on the pore size. After T6 heat treatment, the influence of the relative density and pore size on the compressive behaviour of Al/Al₂O₃ composite foams becomes more distinct.