Dr. Afsaneh Rabiei, inventor of CMF
Image credit: NC State University
A new, lightweight and exceptionally strongmanufacturingmaterial has entered the scene: composite metal foam (CMF). The potential is exciting, to say the least—just imagine the benefits of such a metal in industries like aerospace,military, and defense.
Composite Metal Foam
Described as being “as strong as steel yet as lightweight as aluminum”, CMF is an alloysteel(containing aluminum, titanium, or other elements) with embedded hollow metal bubbles. This wonder material, while not the first “metal foam” ever created, is reportedly the strongest. But just how strong is it?
In2019 testing, CMF vehicle armor was able to stop .50 caliber bullets as if it was made from conventional steel—despite being half the weight. This type of ammo would otherwise pierce right through other metals of similar weight.
CMF Benefits
The advantages of this steel are monumental. Its lightweight nature increases part performance, improves fuel efficiency, and saves energy. In addition to being half the weight of regular steel but just as strong, CMF stainless steel is also a remarkable insulator. Thanks to its air pockets, which slowheattransfer through the metal, it can block heat better than a solid sheet of stainless steel.
Most importantly, it might just be able to save lives. Research showed that inserting two pieces of composite metal foam behind the bumper of a car traveling at 28 mph would reduce the impact on passengers to feel like a collision at just 5 mph.
Potential Applications
CMF’s high strength-to-density ratio makes it an optimal material for aircraft, boats and structures that need to be both lightweight and impact-resistant. Thanks to the insulating perks, it can be used (among other things) in the chemical industry to protect heat-sensitive materials.
We’ve already seen how it can benefit automotive safety (such as car bumpers) and armor for military and defense, but its advantages don’t end there. It can also shield from neutron and space radiation, making it valuable in the nuclear industry,space exploration, and biomedical devices.
About the Inventor
Dr.Afsaneh Rabiei, an engineer fromNorth Carolina State University, has been researching high-performance materials for over twenty years. She has an advanced materials Ph.D. from the University of Tokyo, and started working on metal foam over a decade ago as a Harvard University researcher.
Rabiei can speak three languages, has written four books, and, in 2003, won the National Science Foundation CAREER award. This impressive academic foundedAdvanced Materials Manufacturing(AMM), and recently announced that AMM is ready for full-scale CMF production.
Image Credit:NC State University
