Functional Application Of Three-dimensional Open-cell Foamed Metal

In the long-term evolution of the organisms,the multifunctional materials characterized by topology and fibers reinforced provide the components of high-performance,lightweight and multi-functional with excellent biological template.On the background of requirements for functional applications of lightweight materials,combined with the technical characteristics of modern transportation,communications,energy,electricity and other fields,the manufacturing technology of open-cell foamed metal characterized by electrodeposition is studied as a representative of the bionic manufacturing system.The fabricating technology of the foamed metal with different pore density and porosity is optimized;and an interactive system between the applications and manufacturing process is realized.It provides a good material foundation for the functional application of foamed metal.The open-cell foamed metal possesses a porous structure with interconnected 3D metallic skeletons that possesses many fascinating properties such as unique network structure,low density,high specific surface area,high conductivity and specific mechanical performance.To harness these properties,five aspects of the functional applications of foamed metal are included as followed:(1)Foamed-metal reinforced rubbing material.Various kinds of foamed metal were filled inside with solid lubricants effectively to fabricate the foamed-metal reinforced composites.For the interconnected metallic skeletons acting as the porous support and the border can resist plastic flow of polymer,the foamed-metal reinforced composites possess better thermal conductivity and wear resistance compared with the homologous polymers.(2)Applied research of surface wettability of foamed metal.Superfloatable multidimensional porous foamed metal integrated with a bionic superhydrophobic surface is developed;and the foamed metal integrated with super-hydrophobic and super-oleophilic surface is designed for oil-water separation.Centrifugation-assisted fog-collecting abilities of foamed metal structures with different surface wettabilities are also investigated.(3)Foamed lead as the current collector for lead-acid battery.Electrodeposited lead-foam grids on copper-foam substrates are used as positive current collectors for lead-acid batteries.It appears that the 3D connected network structure of the positive lead foam electrode can reduce the surface current density,the polarization resistance,and the ohmic resistance of the battery because of its larger contact area with the active material.As a result,the lead foam battery has a higher utilization efficiency of the positive active materials.(4)Foamed metal based electromagnetic shielding material.The electromagnetic shielding performance of foamed copper,foamed nickel,foamed copper-nickel alloy and Foamed metal integrated with CNT/graphene composite in the X-band are investigated.The multiple rounds of reflection and absorption would have made it difficult for the microwaves to escape from the composite before being absorbed and transformed into heat.It develops the shielding material from 2 dimensions to 3 dimensions,and is especially suitable for particular shielding and ventilating requirements.(5)Thermal properties of foamed metal in the gas/fluid coupling.Here foamed copper with smaller pore density is used as the external radiating fin,while that with larger one as the liquid-absorbent core of heat pipe.A visualization experimental device is established for the study of pool boiling in the foamed copper,and the nucleation mechanism of bubble on the foamed-copper surface is also investigated.The gas-solid and fluid-solid coupling model for heat transfer will provide new ideas for the foamed metal radiator.