Scalable Manufacture of Energy Absorbing Composite Metal Foams

This Phase I SBIR program will demonstrate scalable manufacturing of light alloy and stainless steel composite metal foams (CMF’s).Powdermet has extensive experience in fabricating composite metal foams using powder metallurgy techniques and low cost cenosphere fillers.These materials are suitable for thermal and impact energy management, being multifunctional materials providing both structural and functional performance to applications.Powdermet and subsidiary Terves LLC will fabricate materials using PM and Pressure infiltration casting, and form standard billets and mill product at commercially relevant batch sizes.Scalable fabrication and cost models will be demonstrated, to produce plate, forge stock, and standard wrought products.Properties will be evaluated as a function of processing sequence, composition, and density, such that trade studies on cost-performance can be generated.