The lightweight structure, energy absorption and noise control of aluminum foam materials have wide application space in the automobile and transportation industry. Automobile is developing towards lightweight, low energy consumption, safer and more comfortable. For this reason, materials with low density, good comprehensive performance and high recycling efficiency are needed. The EU's bright Europe plan is to study the application of aluminum foam in automobiles. The stiffness of the vehicle frame is strengthened by using foam aluminum component, which improves the stability of the frame by 30%. German automaker Karmann AG has chosen foam aluminum sandwich panels to make car roof plates and soleplates. Its stiffness is 7 times higher than that of the original steel parts, but its quality is 25% lighter than that of the steel parts. The floor car made of aluminum foam sandwich plate has a 50% reduction in quality per square metre than steel. The Australian light metal Performance Research Center (LKR) and BMW (BMW) have jointly developed a foam aluminum structure engine bracket, which can increase the high quality of the engine while dissipating mechanical vibration and heat energy, and its impact, vibration and safety can be improved.
The aluminum foam material absorbs energy and has strong performance. It will produce plastic deformation when it collides and absorb the impact force of external load. It can effectively protect the safety of vehicles and occupants. When the car with a mass of 1500kg is colliding at 48km/h speed, the area of collision will be calculated according to 1000mm * 150mm and thickness according to 20mm. Then the aluminum foam can absorb 84% of the total impact energy.
At present, BMW, Mercedes Benz, TOYOTA, Hyundai and other auto companies are developing foam aluminum bumper cars, some companies have passed the crash test. Aluminum foam is heat-resistant, flame retardant, and does not release toxic gas under heated condition. Therefore, the use of aluminum foam instead of foam plastic or foam resin material can improve the service life and reduce maintenance. It also eliminates the harmful gases produced by traditional materials in vehicle accidents, greatly reduces the losses and casualties in traffic accidents, and also plays an environmental role.
Foam aluminum can also be used for making urban rail and sound insulation screens beside viaducts. The internationally recognized ideal sound insulation screen is that it has sound absorption function near the noise source side and sound insulation function as a whole. The best sound insulation screen is made of aluminum foam material, the outer side is aluminum plate veneer, the inside is bare surface foam aluminum plate, has the sound absorption function, and can soundproof 20 ~ 30dB. Semi cylindrical Alporas foam aluminum and steel back or concrete back sound absorption devices have been developed for noise control of expressway bridges and subways.
