Metal foams have plenty of pores inside and their densities are much lower than the solid ones. Their cellular structure causes to show unique features, such as energy absorbing capacity, thermal properties and sound absorbing properties. These features are very attractive in transportation industries, and the prospective applications of metal foams are the parts of automobiles, aeroplanes and railway cars.
In this laboratory, fabrication processes of metal foams for automotive parts have been studied and developed in order not only to reduce the weight and CO₂ emission but also to keep the drivers and passengers safe from accidents.