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Multifuncional hybrid foams composed by aluminium open-cell foam filled with polymers

Multifunctional materials represent one of the most current and promising class of materials for engineering applications. This type of materials shows enhanced performance resulting from the combination of the individual constituents’ properties [1]. Hybrid foams are a particular class of these materials usually prepared by filling the voids of the foam with a secondary material. Aluminum open-cell foams are one of the most interesting multifunctional materials with applicable properties, such as high thermal and electrical conductivities and high internal surface area, recyclability and non-flammability. However, they are mechanically weak compared to other materials. This drawback can be overcome with the combination of a stronger filling material (polymer) [2, 3]. In this study, an aluminum open-cell (OC) foam was filled with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), resulting in polydimethylsiloxane-aluminum (PDMS-OC) hybrid foam. Quasi-static and dynamic uniaxial compressive tests and infrared thermography were performed to compare the PDMS-OC hybrid foams with the individual components (OC foam and PDMS). The effect of the incorporation at a low content of graphene-based materials (GBMs) dispersed into the PDMS matrix was also evaluated. Results show an improvement of the compressive strength and energy absorption capacity of hybrid foams compared to the individual components (OC foams and PDMS). The use of the PDMS as a void filler also changed the typical layer-wise collapse mechanism of the aluminum open-cell foam. Simultaneously, the elastomeric behavior of PDMS allowed that the material can undergo higher loads without cracking. The PDMS enforced a symmetric deformation by folding in the middle of the hybrid foams. The high energy absorption values of aluminum OC foams embedded with PDMS compensated for the mass increase due to the PDMS filler. The incorporation of GBMs introduces voids into the PDMS matrix and avoids higher degree of crosslinking/polymerization in PDMS. The thermal conductivity of the OC/PDMS hybrid foams was slightly higher comparatively to the PDMS specimens. This effect is more pronounced with the addition of GBMs in the PDMS matrix.

open-cell aluminium foam ; polydimenthylsiloxane ; hybrid foam ; graphene-based materials ; compressive behaviour

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