Preparation of lightweight glass microsphere/Al sandwich composites with high compressive properties

Abstract Glass microsphere/Al sandwich composites were manufactured by hot pressing to investigate their microstructure and compressive properties depending on the hot-press pressures (10–20 MPa). At the proper hot-press pressure, the composites had the highest dynamic compressive properties and maximal peak stress at quasi-static compression. Compared to aluminum foam with similar density, glass microsphere/Al sandwich composites had better compressive properties mainly due to additional reinforcement with microspheres and the formation of a regular cellular structure.