Forming of AFS-Tailored Blanks at Elevated Temperatures

Aluminium-Foam-Sandwich (AFS) is, because of its high stiffness and good damping properties, a material with great potential for light-weight applications. However, the forming properties of unfoamed AFS precursor material are very poor at room temperature. The formation of cracks at the TiH2 grains of the foaming agent leads to a refractory failure of the material. Yet by the change to elevated forming temperatures the core material becomes more and more ductile and the achievable degree of deformation can be significantly improved. The forming operation shows a great influence on the subsequent foaming process so that the compliance of certain construction guidelines is necessary.