A novel method for producing of steel tubes with Al foam core

In this study, the aluminum foam filling steel tube was produced by powder metallurgy and cold welding process. By this method, Al powder mixed with 0.6 wt.% TiH2 powder and then pressed into the steel tube. This filled tube was treated in temperature above aluminum melting point for releasing the hydrogen gas by decomposition of TiH2 particles for providing of foam production conditions. For the first time, the steel tube with Al foam core produced by this method, without using of binder or fitting. Main advantage of these filled tubes is high energy absorption. Energy absorption is very useful in automobile and railway industry. Lightweight is another advantage of these tubes for these applications. It is found that the Al foam filling steel tubes absorb higher energy with respect to the sum of the energy absorptions of the steel tube and aluminum foam alone.