Metal, carbon and ceramic reticulated foams – low-density, permeable structures of cells and continuous ligaments – are available in small quantities to researchers and design engineers from Goodfellow.
Reticulated aluminium foam showing the open cell structure of continuous ligaments.
Thanks in part to the continuous ligaments, reticulated foams have an unusually high surface area-to-volume ratio. Available from the company in aluminium, stainless steel, nickel, vitreous carbon, alumina and silicon carbide, these low-density foams also have a high strength-to-weight ratio and possess the same chemical resistance as the parent material. They can be conductive or insulating, depending on the material chosen.
Reticulated foams can be used in an extremely wide range of applications, including:
- Porous electrodes (electrically conductive materials)
- High-temperature insulation
- Filters
- Three-dimensional network of reinforcing fibres in composites
- Storage batteries
- Scaffolds for biological growth
- Acoustic control
- Cores in structural sandwich panels
- Heat exchangers
More information about reticulated foams can be found on the online Goodfellow Catalogue at www.goodfellow.com.