LAUSR

The main goal of this research was to improve a carbonate-type foaming agent for the production of Al foams. Various systematic treatments, i.e. mechanical, thermal and chemical, were applied to naturally occurring dolomite, in order to affect its thermal decomposition. Structural modifications after the treatments as well as after the thermal decomposition were monitored by X-ray diffraction, while thermal gravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry coupled with mass spectrometry were employed to monitor the processes during the heating experiments. The as-received dolomite, without any pre-treatments, decomposes at a relatively high temperature, which prevents its wider application as a foaming agent. However, by using various treatments the decomposition of the dolomite could be shifted towards lower temperatures, making it suitable for the production of aluminium foams.