Book Description

This volume is a record of the "Porous and Cellular Materials for Structural Applications" symposium, held from April 13-15, at the 1998 MRS Spring Meeting in San Francisco. A diverse and international group of experts was brought together to present and discuss recent developments in the area of porous and cellular materials, including polymer-, ceramic- and metal-based materials. The general focus of the symposium was on porous materials that are being developed, at least in part, for structural applications. Theoretical aspects of the mechanical behavior of porous and cellular materials were discussed, as well as the specific mechanical properties of a wide variety of solid foam materials. Design principles for the use of solid foams in structures were presented, and a number of promising applications for porous and cellular materials were shown. Papers on the manufacture of solid foams and the production of parts containing solid foams were presented. A significant portion of the symposium was devoted to new porous materials that cannot be classified as foams, such as hollow spheres, hot isostatically compacted and expanded (HICE materials and GASAR materials. Papers delivered on these novel materials covered their manufacture, properties and prospective uses. The symposium demonstrated that the development and understanding of porous and cellular materials has advanced significantly in the past decade, particularly in the area of porous metallic materials.