Closed-Cell Aluminum Foam of Improved Sound Absorption Ability: Manufacture and Properties

The paper presents a new method for the production of the closed-cell Al foams of improved sound absorbing ability. Final heat treatment procedure including heating below the solidus temperature followed by water quenching is proposed as an alternative method to machining, which is used commonly for improvement of the sound absorption coefficient. Several kinds of foams based on AlZnMg-alloys comprising brittle eutectic domains of interdendritic redundant phase have been produced by the Alporas-like melting process to realize the method above. Opening of the closed cell structure required for ensuring high sound absorption ability has been achieved by cracking the walls between neighboring cells, making them gas permeable. They ultimately looked like Helmholtz micro-perforated resonators. Processing parameters and other variables that are favorable both for foaming regime and for final heat treatment are discussed and specified.