Technologies and Products

Al foams are ultra light weight materials with typical densities between 0.3 to 0.9 g/cm3. These foams can be used to absorb impact and blast energy efficiently at low transmitted stresses. They exhibit superior stiffness to weight ratio, vibration damping and resistance to fire in comparison to polymer foams. A technology to make closed cell aluminium foam blocks through liquid metallurgy route is available in DMRL.

PRODUCT PROFILES

• Regular shapes ‐ cylindrical foam ingots of up to 220 mm diameter and plates of 400 mm x 300 mm x 100 mm size
• Foam components of various geometries to address any specific product requirement
• Foam sandwich panels with required Al alloy face sheets with foam core

APPLICATION AREAS

• Blast resistant structures for bunkers, tank under‐belly protection, jackets and antimining boots
• Composite armour (as back up panel for explosive reactive armour) in tanks
• Crash resistant structures, automobile side & front bumpers, engine mounting brackets, A‐pillars & nuclear transportation casks.
• Light weight structures like foam filled beams and channels for commercial vehicles

PROPERTIES OF FOAMS

• High energy absorption per unit weight under compression at low transmitted stresses
• High specific stiffness
• Vibration damping
• Better fire retardation behaviour in comparison to polymer foams

Compressive Properties

Density : 0.3‐0.8 g/cc Plateau Strength : 1.0‐15 MPa Elastic Modulus : 0.2‐0.8 GPa Energy Absorbed : 1‐10 MJ/m3