Anisotropic compressive properties of porous copper produced by unidirectional solidification

Porous copper whose long cylindrical pores are aligned in one direction has been fabricated by unidirectional solidification of the melt in a mixture gas of hydrogen and argon. The compressive yield strength of the porous copper with the cylindrical pores orientated parallel to the compression direction decreases linearly with increasing porosity. For the porous copper whose pore axes are perpendicular to the compressive direction, the compressive yield strength slightly decreases in the porosity range up to 30% and then decreases significantly with increasing porosity. The compressive stress-strain curves depend on the compressive direction with respect to the pore direction, which are due to the stress concentration around the pores and the buckling of the copper between the pores. From two different types of stress-strain curve, the energy absorption capacity of the porous copper with the pores parallel to the compressive direction is higher than that perpendicular to the compressive direction at a given porosity. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.