Novel TRIP‐Steel/Mg‐PSZ Composite–Open Cell Foam Structures for Energy Absorption

Porous materials have received extensive attention for energy absorption in the last years. In terms of this study austenitic TRIP‐steel/Mg‐PSZ composite–open cell foam structures are formed based on replicas using open‐celled polyurethane foam as a skeleton with and without a supporting dense face (jacket) coating. Their compression strength as well as their specific energy absorption SEA has been registered as a function of the compressive strain. The zirconia addition has reinforced the composite material with the face coating up to a compressive strain of 50%. The stress‐induced martensitic transformation of partially stabilized zirconia phases has been investigated as a function of the compressive strain by EBSD. The zirconia phase transformation is triggered already at low compressive strains below 2%.