An overview on laser welding of metal foams: techniques, advantages and challenges

Due to the manifold properties of porous materials in general, and metal foams particular, they are increasingly used industrial, structural functional applications. The depend on: chemical composition, metallurgical aspects, processing morphology (the type porosity: open or closed), amount porosity, cells size shape. There challenges difficulties encountered welding bonding from wider use production complex-shaped components. Some problems that associate with processes reduction mechanical properties, intermetallic compound formation, microstructural inhomogeneity low fatigue strength. More complicated envisaged during other dissimilar materials. Laser technologies seem be most promising joining techniques. This paper presents an overview on laser techniques involving based technology similar combinations, without filler metal. discussion is presented keeping focus CuZn open-cell foams, lotus iron, foam-filled steel sandwich beams, aluminum foam cores inside a hollow profile panels.