Foaming of aluminium-silicon alloy using concentrated solar energy

Abstract

Solar energy is used for the work reported here as a nonconventional heating system to produce aluminium foam from Al{single bond}Si alloy precursors produced by powder metallurgy. A commercial precursor in cylindrical bars enclosed in a stainless-steel mould was heated under concentrated solar radiation in a solar furnace with varied heating conditions (heating rate, time, and temperature). Concentrated solar energy close to 300 W/cm2 on the mould is high enough to achieve complete foaming after heating for only 200 s. Under these conditions, the density and pore distribution n the foam change depending on the solar heating parameters and mould design.