Compressive Behavior of 7075 Al-SiO2 Waste Particle Composite Foams Produced with Recycled Aluminum Cans

7075 Al-SiO2 composite foams were successfully produced by using low-cost materials, including as-received pressed blocks of recycled beverage aluminum cans and silica waste particles as a reinforcement and thickening agent. The composite foams were produced by using direct foaming of melt method. Different percentages of foaming agent and SiO2 particles were used to optimize the properties of the produced foams. The compressive behavior at different strain rates of the composite foams was investigated. At all strain rates studied in the present work, the addition of SiO2 particles into 7075 Al foam considerably enhanced the compressive properties of the composite foams, including the compressive plastic stress, plateau stress, modulus of elasticity, normalized modulus, energy absorption and energy absorbing efficiency without increasing in the relative density of the foams. The compressive properties of the composite foam produced by using low-cost materials, in the present work, are comparable or higher than those of the aluminum alloy foams reported in the literature. The composite foams exhibited higher strain hardening exponents in comparison with those of the 7075 Al foams, indicating that a strong interfacial bond between 7075 Al alloy and SiO2 particles was developed. The compressive plastic stress and plateau stress of the investigated foams exhibited a significant sensitivity to altering the strain rate, even at low and narrow range of strain rate used in the present work.