Hollow Sphere Structures at Fraunhofer IFAM Dresden

Lightweight materials whose characteristics are similar to natural examples are increasingly important in a lot of industrial applications. Although these materials have low weight due to their porous structure, they are characterised by very high specific strength. Based on this principle, metallic hollow spheres can be defined and built up to calculable, metallic hollow sphere structures. As a result, new, constructed materials are shaped.

Metallic hollow sphere structures can be described as a metal foam, which is a combination of open and closed porosity and spherical cells with exactly adjustable cell diameters and cell wall thickness. In cooperation with Glatt Systemtechnik GmbH, the manufacturing processes have become so well developed that manufacturing the structures in pilot-scale is possible and the beginning of industrial production is imminent.

The diversity of potential applications of metallic hollow spheres and hollow sphere structures is still at the beginning of industrial use.