Abstract:Based on A356 aluminum alloy, aluminum foams were prepared by gas injection foaming process with pure nitrogen, air and some gas mixtures. The oxygen volume fraction of these gas mixtures varied from 0.2% to 8.0%. Optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) were used to analyze the influence of oxygen content on cell structure, relative density, macro and micro morphology of cell walls, coverage area fraction of oxide film, thickness of oxide film and other aspects. Results indicate that the coverage area fraction of oxide film on bubble surface increases with the increase of oxygen content when the oxygen volume is less than 1.2%. While when the oxygen volume fraction is larger than 1.6%, an oxide film covers the entire bubble surface and aluminum foams with good cell structure can be produced. The thicknesses of oxide films of aluminum foams produced by gas mixtures containing 1.6%-21% oxygen are almost the same. The reasons why the thickness of oxide film nearly does not change with the variation of oxygen content and the amount of oxygen needed to achieve 100% coverage of oxide film are both discussed. In addition, the role of oxide film on bubble surface in foam stability is also analyzed.

Key words: aluminum foam; gas injection foaming process; oxide film; foam stability mechanism