Metal foam is an ultra-light porous metallic material with a density ranging from 0.15 to 3 g/cm³. It combines the structural strength of solid metals with the multi-functional porous characteristics of foams. For the construction sector, two main product forms are adopted: open-cell metal foam (for sound absorption & noise reduction, ventilation & air permeability, thermal insulation, and structural support) and metal foam sandwich panels (for curtain wall enclosures and decorative panels). These products serve five core construction scenarios: building curtain walls, interior decoration, acoustic engineering, fireproof enclosures, and lightweight structural design.

Six Core Functions of Metal Foam in Construction

Function 1: Sound Absorption & Noise Reduction

● Ceiling and wall sound-absorbing panels for theatres, concert halls and lecture halls

● Noise reduction partitions for open-plan offices and hotel lobbies

● Acoustic treatment for public areas of metro stations and airport terminals

● Noise barriers along highways and sound-absorbing liners for railway tunnels

Function 2: Thermal Insulation & Heat Preservation

● Thermal insulation interlayers for exterior walls of commercial buildings

● Heat insulation backboards for curtain wall systems

● Reinforced enclosures for residential buildings in cold regions

● Heat insulation barriers for high-temperature zones in industrial plants

Function 3: Class A Fire Resistance & Flame Retardancy

● Decorative panels for public areas in high-rise residential buildings and office towers

● Enclosures for fire escape routes in hospitals, schools and shopping malls

● Fire sealing for underground spaces and tunnels

● Partition wall panels for data center machine rooms

Function 4: Curtain Wall Decoration & Light and Shadow Effects

● Exterior curtain walls of commercial complexes

● Interior decorative walls for high-end hotels and brand flagship stores

● Art installation panels for cultural centers and exhibition halls

● Ceiling panels and luminous partitions

Function 5: Electromagnetic Shielding

Metal foam achieves outstanding electromagnetic shielding effectiveness covering the frequency band of 6–18 GHz. Its construction applications include:

● EMI shielding layers for walls of data centers and communication equipment rooms

● Electromagnetic isolation enclosures for MRI/CT equipment rooms in hospitals

● Shielding wall panels for weak current control rooms in smart buildings

● Electromagnetic safety barriers for military classified facilities

Function 6: Lightweight Structural Design & Seismic Energy Absorption

The density of foamed metal is only 59 times that of solid metal. It can absorb impact energy of over 2.5 MJ/m³ at 50% deformation. In building structures, it can be used as:

● Lightweight core materials for long-span ceiling sandwich panels

● Vibration-damping filling layers for cantilever structures

● Energy-absorbing buffer components for buildings in seismic zones

● Lightweight core materials for prefabricated building wall panels

Metal Foam Sandwich Panels – Integrated Solution for Building Curtain Walls

Metal foam sandwich panels feature a "skin-core-skin" sandwich structure, bonded by two outer metal face sheets (aluminum or steel plates) and an intermediate metal foam core. This is the most mature metal foam product form widely used in the construction industry.

Core Performance Advantages

● Ultra-high specific stiffness: Far superior bending stiffness than solid metal plates under identical weight

● Integrated multi-functionality: Single panel integrates decoration, thermal insulation, fire resistance, sound insulation and electromagnetic shielding

● Lightweight & rapid installation: Weight equals 1/30 to 1/5 of solid metal plates; compatible with dry-hanging assembly and modular construction

● Weather resistance & anti-corrosion: Non-hygroscopic, mould-proof and anti-aging, suitable for both indoor and outdoor use

● Full-life environmental friendliness: Can be manufactured with 20%–100% recycled materials and 100% recyclable upon end-of-life

Specification Range

● Panel thickness: 5–50 mm curtain wall panels; thicker panels can be achieved by bonding multiple layers together

● Standard dimensions: 500 × 1000 mm; bondable; customizable

● Surface finishes: powder coating, sandblasting, perforation, artistic textured treatment

● Installation methods: adhesive bonding, screw fastening with light steel keels, dry-hanging systems

Detailed Introduction to Six Major Construction Application Scenarios

Scenario 1: Curtain Wall Systems for Commercial Buildings

Metal foam sandwich panels serve as exterior enclosure panels, replacing the traditional three-layer system consisting of aluminum single plate + insulation layer + fireproof board. A single panel integrates decoration, thermal insulation and fire resistance. Its lightweight property reduces load on curtain wall keels and shortens construction periods. Class A fire performance satisfies fire codes for high-rise buildings, while metallic finishes with anodizing or custom coating deliver a premium modern appearance.

Scenario 2: Acoustic Engineering for Public Venues

For theatres, concert halls, lecture halls and other spaces with strict acoustic standards, open-cell metal foam sound-absorbing panels act as core ceiling and wall materials. With a mid-low frequency sound absorption coefficient above 0.8, they effectively eliminate echo and standing waves. Combined with perforation treatment and back cavity tuning, the sound absorption curve across all frequency bands can be precisely calibrated. Metallic materials are non-combustible, non-hygroscopic and anti-aging, boasting a far longer service life than traditional fabric sound-absorbing panels.

Scenario 3: Noise Reduction for Transportation Infrastructure

Open-cell metal foam panels are adopted as permanent acoustic barriers for highway noise walls, railway tunnel liners and public metro station areas. With an NRC (Noise Reduction Coefficient) ≥ 0.75, the material features excellent weather resistance and anti-corrosion performance with zero routine replacement or maintenance required. Its built-in insulation layer simultaneously blocks thermal radiation and noise generated by moving trains.

Scenario 4: Enclosure Systems for Data Centers & Equipment Rooms

Metal foam sandwich panels are used for partition walls and suspended ceilings in data centers. Class A fire resistance safeguards server equipment; structural insulation cuts air conditioning loads; electromagnetic shielding performance of 60–90 dB protects servers from electromagnetic interference. The lightweight design enables fast modular assembly to support flexible data center capacity expansion.

Scenario 5: Interior Decoration for High-End Residential Buildings & Hotels

Metal foam decorative panels are applied to lobby feature walls, elevator hall claddings and suspended ceilings. Metallic luster and porous textures create a sophisticated modern aesthetic. Large-aperture light-transmitting panels paired with LED backlighting deliver twinkling starlight visual effects. Being non-combustible with zero formaldehyde and zero VOC emissions, the material meets health standards for high-end residential living spaces.

Scenario 6: Lightweight Wall Panels for Prefabricated Buildings

Metal foam sandwich panels function as core materials for internal and external wall panels of prefabricated buildings. They feature ultra-light weight (1/10 the density of solid metal), high stiffness (1.5 times the bending specific stiffness of steel) and Class A fire resistance, serving as an alternative to traditional aerated concrete panels and rock wool sandwich panels. Modular dry-hanging installation boosts construction efficiency by over 300%.