Elaboration and characterization of metallic foams based on tin-lead

This study is devoted to the fabrication of metallic foams based on tin-lead of various relative densities and Pore sizes by means of the liquid alloy infiltration process and its characterization (mechanical behavior and microstructure). Room temperature uniaxial compression tests were carried out in order to study the influence of the size of cell and of the relative density on the behavior in compression and to interpret these relations within a framework. A characterization on a microscopic scale (metallography and hardness) is achieved in order to link the morphological and mechanical characteristics of the constitutive phases, the parameters of the process and the macroscopic mechanical behavior. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.