Recent research progress of foam metals welding: a review

The unique porous structure of foam metal imparts a variety of advantageous properties, including low weight, reduced density, extensive specific surface area, efficient sound and energy absorption, exceptional thermal insulation, effective electromagnetic shielding, and outstanding electrochemical behavior. As a result, foam metals are deemed crucial for both functionalizing structural materials and structuring functional materials, finding widespread application in electronics, chemicals, machinery, and aerospace sectors. Currently, the welding of foam metals is a subject of significant interest and ongoing research, with numerous studies aimed at refining the welding process. This review provides an overview of the current state-of-the-art research on foam metal welding and evaluates the feasibility of different welding techniques from a methodological perspective. A comparison of the efficiency and efficacy of various welding approaches in the preparation of foam metal joints is performed to highlight their strengths and limitations. Finally, this paper summarizes the current developments in foam metal welding and provides insights into the future trajectory of this field.