Foaming of Al-Si by TiH₂

Abstract

Al-6wt%Si alloy foam was prepared by melt foaming method with the addition of titanium hydride as a blowing agent. The effect of thermal decomposition properties of titanium hydride on the alloy melt foaming behavior and the pores structure was studied. The result shows that the number of pores in the foam with stirring time t _s of 60 to 150 sec is 120 to 220 per unit area (cm⁻²). At the temperature of 550°C there is a uniform cell structure. The porosity of foamed Al-6wt%Si with TiH₂ addition of 1.0 wt% has been remarkably increased, and 1.0 to 1.5 wt% provided a high uniformity of spherical porosity cell structure distribution besides having a favorable decrease in bulk density.

Keywords:

• Aluminum
• Characterization
• Density
• Foaming
• Structure
• TiH₂