Compression and Energy Absorption Properties of Cellular Al-0.16Sc Alloy Foam after Isothermal Aging

Using Ca as thickening agent and TiH2 as blowing agent, cellular Al-0.16Sc alloy foams with a porosity of (78±0.5)% and a homogeneous pore structure, were successfully fabricated by melt-foaming method. In quasi-static compression test at room temperature, the compression and energy absorption properties of the foams before and after isothermal aging at 300 ℃ were investigated. The results show that the isothermal aging at 300 ℃ can significantly improve the yield strength which remained unchanged up to 720 h. The yield strength of Al-0.16Sc alloy foam treated in the good aging process within 5-720 h was obviously higher than T6-treated cellular Al-0.24Sc alloy and Al foams, and was comparable with high-strength AlCu5Mn alloy foam. Moreover, the isothermal aging at 300 ℃ was also beneficial to the enhancement of the energy absorption properties for the Al-0.16Sc alloy foam. The energy absorption capacity of the Al-0.16Sc alloy foam aged for 10 h was comparable with that of AlCu5Mn alloy foams and the energy absorption efficiency was stable.