4. Thermal properties

4.1 Heat exchange (with liquid or gas)

For this type of property, of course, only metal foams with open structures (communicating pores) are concerned.

The use of metal foam in heat exchangers must meet two requirements that are antinomic in terms of the size of the cells to be used:

• the search for maximum heat exchange, and therefore a large specific surface area, leading to the selection of the smallest possible cells;

• limiting pressure losses, which means opting for larger cells with large flow windows.

The materials used in these foams are therefore good conductors of heat, typically copper and aluminum. However, certain specific applications, such as heat...