Introduction

The main objective of this invention is a panel/structure based on sandwiches with core made of metal foam (open cells) material impregnated by phase change materials, that are able to maintain the thermal stability of a system (e.g. machine tool) absorbing heat for a long duration. The proposed structure also guarantees stiffness and damping.

Technical features

This invention presents a panel based on sandwiches with core made of metal foam (open cells) material impregnated by phase change materials, that are able to maintain the thermal stability of a system (e.g. machine tool) absorbing heat for a long duration. These materials take advantage of latent heat absorbing energy during the heating process as phase change takes place and release energy to the environment in the phase change range during a reverse cooling process. This invention is particularly suitable to design and build machine tool structures and moving parts, offering both the thermal stability and the increase of stiffness and damping for quality machining.

Possible Applications

• Ultra-high precision machine tools;
• Machine tools (turning, milling, boring machines, CNC machines);
• Laser machines;
• Coordinate measurement machines (CMMs);
• Systems operating with variation of environment temperature.

Advantages

• Thermal stability of machine tool structures when the environment temperature is perturbed;
• Use as machine tool structures;
• High damping of panels/structures;
• High stiffness of panels/structures;
• High lightweight of panels/structures;
• Flexibility in use;
• Easy to use.