Experimental Set-Up of the Production Process and Mechanical Characterization of Metal Foams Manufactured by Lost-PLA Technique with Different Cell Morphology

A flexible and versatile method for manufacturing open-cell metal foams, called lost-PLA, is presented in this work. With a double extruder 3D printer (FDM, Ultimaker S3, Utrecht, The Netherlands), it possible to make polymer-based samples of the lost model. Through CAD modeling, different geometries were replicated so as get black PLA samples. This combines advantages rapid prototyping with possibility Al-alloy specimens low time market. production process articulated many steps: foams are inserted into an ultra-resistant plaster mix, after which polymer thermally degraded. next step consists gravity casting EN-6082 alloy form, obtaining that interesting from technological point view well respect their mechanical properties. These foam prototypes can find application automotive, civil aeronautical fields due high surface/weight ratio, making them optimal heat exchange ability absorb energy during compression. main aspects on we focus set-up parameters characterization properties manufactured steps examined at first. After that, results obtained performance static compression tests geometry porosities compared discussed. truncated octahedron cells was found show highest absorbed energy/relative density ratio.