High temperature compressive deformation behavior of ZA27–SiC foam

Compressive deformation behavior of closed cell zinc aluminum alloy (ZA27)–SiC composite foams with varying relative densities has been studied at varying strain rates (0.001–1 s−1) and temperatures (100–250 °C). The compressive deformations of these foams are characterized in terms of plateau stress, densification strain and energy absorption capacity as a function of cell size, relative density, strain rate and temperature. Plateau stress and energy absorption increase with increase in relative density and strain rate; and decrease with increase in temperature. The densification strain on the other hand is noted to be almost invariant to the cell size, strain rate and temperature. The plateau stress, however, decreases marginally with cell size. On the other hand, the energy absorption decreases comparatively to a larger extent with increase in the cell size. This has been discussed in line with the deformation mechanism of the ZA27–SiC foam.