| abstract |
A plurality of closed metal cells is provided. Each cell encapsulates a fluid or a fluid-like filler with a metal skin or cell wall. The closed cells are joined into an aggregate arrangement to form a composite material in which the bonded cell walls form a continuous metal matrix. The cell walls and the encapsulated cell filler fluid or fluid-like filler provide controllable stiffness and strength as well as vibration-damping and shock-absorbing characteristics to the material. The resulting closed cell metal composite finds many advantageous uses including use as a prosthetic device, a casting, or an automotive component. The component material is elastically compliant or stiff, depending on the design, as well as lightweight and resistant to buckling and crushing. The material provides desirable physical properties such as heat-capacity, thermal and electrical conductivity, vibration-damping capacity, and shock-absorbing characteristics. |