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Materials: Recycled cans can become Aluminum Foam

By Rain Noe - October 1, 2010

in Materials

Aluminum foam is neat stuff, made by melting the metal down and adding a bubbling agent while it's in liquid form. The resultant material looks like a sponge, is up to 95% air, is fireproof, sound-dampening, reflective, and can absorb a high amount of impact force. The military is incorporating aluminum foam in Humvees (click on "Blast Mitigation" at link) to absorb IED blasts, and Frank Gehry's making a building complex out of the stuff. The informative (but occasionally silly) nine-minute video below takes a closer look at the material and how it's made:

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Zach Kaplan

14 years ago

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Its interesting stuff. Most of the applications I have seen are decorative. For example it was used in a 911 Memorial honoring 24 Service Employees of International Union Members of local 32BJ that were killed when hijacked planes crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. It was also used as a floor in an exhibit at the auto show.
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Ken J

14 years ago

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Aluminum foam eh? Sounds flammable. Any studies on its flammability?
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Kal C.

14 years ago

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Looks like a solid sustainable option, especially in the sound absorption arena.

My only concern, albeit a minor one, is aluminum pollution. Aluminum can have adverse effects in humans and other life forms and I wonder if its foamed form will create 'run-off' and enter our air and/or food supply.

Aluminum poisoning has been linked to cancer, negative behavioral effects and bone degeneration.
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