Effect of homogenizing heat treatment on the compressive properties of closed-cell Mg alloy foams

Closed-cell AZ31 Mg alloy foams were successfully prepared by melt-foaming method. Homogenizing heat treatment was applied on the foams and the effects of heat treatment on compressive properties of closed-cell Mg alloy foams were investigated systematically. The results showed that homogenizing heat treatment enhanced the compressive properties in terms of yield strength, mean plateau strength, available energy absorption capacity and ideality energy absorption efficiency of the foams. In addition, homogenizing heat treatment greatly reduced the stress drop rates of the foams. Specimens homogenized at the temperature of 753 K for 24 h possessed good combination of yield strength, compressive stability, available energy absorption capacity and ideality energy absorption efficiency under the present experiment conditions. And the reasons were discussed.