Advances in the application of APM aluminium foams in automotive structures

Mechanical properties of APM foams can be influenced by choice of different adhesives for joining the foam elements to each other. Best mechanical properties were achieved with resin. Processing experiments showed that all developed APM foam integration procedures worked in principal. Integration of an APM foam part in a one piece structural component has been the most complex task and delivered not fully satisfying results. Significant further improvement in terms of cavity filling and contour reproduction as well as processing (charging) is required. APM foam filled structures were successfully produced by integration of separately produced APM foam parts as well as foam element packaues in polymer bags.