From Stochastic Foam to Designed Structure: Balancing Cost and Performance of Cellular Metals

• Published in: Materials Vol. 10; no. 8; p. 922
• Main Authors: Lehmhus, Dirk, Vesenjak, Matej, Schampheleire, Sven de, Fiedler, Thomas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 08.08.2017; MDPI
• Subjects: additive manufacturing; Cellular manufacture; cellular metal; Cellular structure; costs; energy absorption; Foamed metals; lattice materials; manufacturing; mechanical properties; metal foam; metallic foam; porous materials; Raw materials; costs; energy absorption; additive manufacturing; metallic foam; metal foam; cellular metal; manufacturing; porous materials; lattice materials; mechanical properties
• ISSN: 1996-1944; 1996-1944
• DOI: 10.3390/ma10080922

Over the past two decades, a large number of metallic foams have been developed. In recent years research on this multi-functional material class has further intensified. However, despite their unique properties only a limited number of large-scale applications have emerged. One important reason for this sluggish uptake is their high cost. Many cellular metals require expensive raw materials, complex manufacturing procedures, or a combination thereof. Some attempts have been made to decrease costs by introducing novel foams based on cheaper components and new manufacturing procedures. However, this has often yielded materials with unreliable properties that inhibit utilization of their full potential. The resulting balance between cost and performance of cellular metals is probed in this editorial, which attempts to consider cost not in absolute figures, but in relation to performance. To approach such a distinction, an alternative classification of cellular metals is suggested which centers on structural aspects and the effort of realizing them. The range thus covered extends from fully stochastic foams to cellular structures designed-to-purpose.