Mechanical properties of A356 and ZA27 metallic syntactic foams at cryogenic temperature

This work presents compressions tests of metallic foams at cryogenic temperature. The investigated syntactic foams were manufactured by combining a packed bed of expanded glass particles with either an aluminium or a zinc matrix using infiltration casting. Uni-axial compressions tests were performed after submerging samples in a bath of liquid nitrogen with an equilibrium temperature of −196 °C. Both the solid matrix material and syntactic foam samples were tested. For comparison, room temperature reference data from the literature was obtained. In addition, the effect of thermal treatment on the mechanical behaviour of both alloys and their foams at cryogenic temperature was addressed. The results indicate significant embrittlement at cryogenic temperature; however, aluminium and its foams are less susceptible to this effect. •This is the first paper to probe the mechanical properties of metallic syntactic foam at cryogenic temperature (−196°C).•A significant embrittlement and enhancement of the initial foam strength was observed at cryogenic temperature.•The cryogenic properties of aluminium alloy (A356) foams can be enhanced using thermal treatment.•Thermal treatment failed to improve the cryogenic properties of zinc alloy (ZA27) foams.