Process for shape casting of particle stabilized metal foam
First Claim
1. A process for producing shaped articles of foam metal which comprises providing a stabilized liquid foam metal formed by heating a composite of a metal matrix and finely divided solid stabilizer particles above the solidus temperature of the metal matrix and discharging gas bubbles into the molten metal composite below the surface thereof to thereby form a stabilized liquid foam on the surface of the molten metal composite, shape casting said stabilized liquid foam metal by gently pressing the stabilized liquid foam into a mould with a pressure sufficient only to cause the liquid foam to assume the shape of the mould without substantial compressing and/or collapsing of the cells of the foam and thereafter cooling and solidifying the foam in the mould to obtain a shaped article having substantially the same density as the starting stabilized liquid foam metal.
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Abstract
Shaped articles are produced from foam metal by a procedure wherein the foam is formed by heating a composite of a metal matrix and finely divided solid stabilizer particles above the solidus temperature of the metal matrix and discharging gas bubbles into the molten metal composite below the surface thereof to thereby form a stabilized liquid foam on the surface of the molten metal composite. According to the novel feature the stabilized metal foam in liquid form is shape cast by being pressed into a mould and permitted to cool and solidify. The density of the cast part is essentially unchanged from that of the starting liquid foam.
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13 Claims
- 1. A process for producing shaped articles of foam metal which comprises providing a stabilized liquid foam metal formed by heating a composite of a metal matrix and finely divided solid stabilizer particles above the solidus temperature of the metal matrix and discharging gas bubbles into the molten metal composite below the surface thereof to thereby form a stabilized liquid foam on the surface of the molten metal composite, shape casting said stabilized liquid foam metal by gently pressing the stabilized liquid foam into a mould with a pressure sufficient only to cause the liquid foam to assume the shape of the mould without substantial compressing and/or collapsing of the cells of the foam and thereafter cooling and solidifying the foam in the mould to obtain a shaped article having substantially the same density as the starting stabilized liquid foam metal.
Specification