A new simple method to conveniently measure the open porosity of porous metal foams with reticular structure

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to introduce different methods for measuring the porosity of metal foams, and especially present a new method for conveniently measuring the open porosity that has a stronger impact on a number of physical properties of the porous product. Design/methodology/approach Metal foam is a kind of material that utilizes the function of pores inside the porous body. For such materials, the porosity is an important factor or even a key factor to determine a number of the practical parameters, such as the conductivity, acoustic properties and mechanical performances. Especially, the open porosity has a stronger impact on the sound absorption, electromagnetic shielding, heat transfer of the porous product, as well as the performances of using the internal pore surface. Therefore, it would be meaningful to find the simple and convenient to well measure the open porosity of metal foams. Findings In the present new method, the open porosity can be obtained directly by different volume parameters of the porous sample, while it can only by some weight indexes of the porous sample in other measuring methods. Originality/value The characteristic of this new method makes the measurement simpler and more convenient in this new method than in the other methods.