Abstract
The main emphasis of this study is to optimize the process variables for manufacturing aluminum foam materials by direct foaming of remelted aluminum scraps. Aluminum foams were fabricated from two different raw materials, pure aluminum and used beverage cans. For both cases, $TiH_{2}$ was used as a foaming agent. Calcium was added as a thickener for the foaming of pure aluminum and no thickener was added for that of used beverage Cans because the pre-existing oxides of the used beverage cans are used as a thickener. Calcium and $TiH_{2}$ content varies from 0.5wt.% to 2.0wt.% and from 0.5wt.% to 1.5wt.%, respectively. The processing conditions, such as the effect of calcium on the melt viscosity, foaming temperature, and the optimum amount of the foaming agent with regard to the melt viscosity were discussed.
