...how to weld metal foam?
 

Composite metal foams (CMFs) are made out of hollow, metallic spheres (made from materials like stainless steel or titanium) that are embedded in a metallic matrix made of steel, titanium, aluminum or other alloys. They are both strong and lightweight, but they have one problem: how to join pieces together.

Traditional fusion welding uses a filler material, which lacks the useful properties of the foam. It also heats the foam pieces, causing them their air bubbles to be filled in, which makes the foam lose its useful properties. But researchers have now discovered that induction welding, where an induction coil is used to create an electromagnetic field to heat the metal, works well without compromising the foam's integrity.

Learn more in the full article.