Foamed core microtruss nanocrystalline Ni cellular hybrids

This study created metal/polymer cellular composite materials in which nanocrystalline Ni was electrodeposited on foamed microtruss polymer cores. The objective was to create a new composite cellular microtruss material in which the mechanical properties were controlled by an interconnected network of conformable nanocrystalline tubes. Batch CO2 foaming of the polymer core resulted in a microcellular foam architecture inside the microtruss struts, which had a lower density than the starting rapid prototyped pre-form. Foaming allowed a larger specific strength and the specific stiffness increases after electrodeposition than was possible on the starting polymer core alone.