A foaming molding apparatus and method for nickel-chromium composite AB-type hydrogen storage alloy porous materials

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of intelligent heat treatment production line technology, and discloses a foaming molding device for a nickel-chromium composite AB-type hydrogen storage alloy porous material, comprising: a molding mold defining a molding cavity for containing powder material; an atmosphere control component connected to the molding cavity to alternately construct a vacuum or inert gas environment; and a hot-pressing temperature control component disposed on the molding mold for applying a densification temperature and pressure load to the powder material in the vacuum environment, and providing a foaming thermal field and cooling heat exchange conditions corresponding to the solid-liquid two-phase region of the alloy in the inert gas environment. The purpose of this invention is to solve the problems in traditional foaming processes where the precursor needs to be removed from the densification mold and transferred to the foaming furnace for secondary heating, resulting in oxidation of the high-temperature precursor during the transfer process, temperature fluctuations affecting the uniformity of the pore structure, reduced production efficiency due to two clamping and positioning operations, and low yield due to process discontinuity.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of intelligent heat treatment production line technology, specifically to a foaming molding device and method for nickel-chromium composite AB-type hydrogen storage alloy porous materials. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of hydrogen energy technology, solid-state hydrogen storage has attracted widespread attention as a safe and efficient hydrogen storage method. Nickel-chromium composite AB-type hydrogen storage alloys have become an important choice for solid-state hydrogen storage materials due to their excellent hydrogen storage performance and cycle stability. Preparing this type of alloy into porous materials can significantly improve the specific surface area and hydrogen diffusion channels, thereby increasing the hydrogen storage capacity and hydrogen charging and discharging rate. This is an important direction in the current preparation of alloy hydrogen storage materials. Alloy powder foaming molding is a key process for preparing porous hydrogen storage alloy materials. This process usually includes the following steps: First, the alloy powder and foaming agent powder are mixed evenly; then, the powder mixture is densified under high temperature and high pressure to form a non-porous precursor; next, the precursor is heated to the solid-liquid two-phase region temperature of the alloy, causing the foaming agent to decompose and release gas, forming a pore structure in the softened alloy matrix; finally, the foam is rapidly cooled to solidify the pore morphology. However, the above-mentioned process flow in the prior art usually adopts a segmented production mode, that is, densification, foaming, cooling and other stages are completed in different equipment. This production mode has the following technical problems: First, the billet needs to be frequently transferred between vacuum hot pressing equipment, foaming furnace and cooling device. During the transfer process, the alloy billet at high temperature is exposed to air and is very prone to surface oxidation, which leads to uneven pore distribution or foaming failure in the subsequent foaming process. Secondly, the densification process requires a vacuum environment to remove gas from the gaps between powder particles, while the foaming process requires inert gas protection to prevent alloy oxidation. Under the existing segmented production mode, the switching of the atmosphere environment depends on the transfer of the billet between different equipment, making it difficult to achieve continuous atmosphere control. Moreover, the atmosphere environment needs to be re-established each time it is transferred, resulting in increased energy consumption and decreased atmosphere control accuracy. Furthermore, the segmented production model requires the configuration of multiple independent heat treatment equipment, including vacuum hot presses, high-temperature foaming furnaces, cooling devices, etc., which results in high equipment investment costs, large floor space requirements, and complex logistics and transportation systems for connecting various equipment, which is not conducive to the compact layout and automated integration of intelligent heat treatment production lines. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to solve the problems in traditional foaming processes where the precursor needs to be removed from the densification mold and transferred to the foaming furnace for secondary heating, which leads to oxidation of the high-temperature precursor during the transfer process, temperature fluctuations affecting the uniformity of the pore structure, reduced production efficiency due to two clamping and positioning, and low yield due to process discontinuity. The invention proposes a foaming molding device and method for nickel-chromium composite AB-type hydrogen storage alloy porous materials.

[0004] The technical solution of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned technical problems is as follows: A foaming and molding apparatus for a nickel-chromium composite AB-type hydrogen storage alloy porous material includes: A molding die, which defines a molding cavity for containing powdered material; An atmosphere control component is connected to the molding cavity to alternately create a vacuum or inert gas environment; A hot-pressing temperature control component, which is disposed on the molding die, is used to apply a densification temperature and pressure load to the powder material in the vacuum environment, and to provide a foaming thermal field and cooling heat exchange conditions corresponding to the solid-liquid two-phase region of the alloy in the inert gas environment.

[0005] Based on the above technical solution, the present invention can be further improved as follows.

[0006] Furthermore, the molding die includes: The bottom formwork forms a horizontal bearing surface; The side mold has an annular wall surface that cooperates with the outer periphery of the bottom mold to define the lateral boundary of the forming cavity, and the side mold and the bottom mold have a relative sliding relationship; The upper mold is coaxially disposed above the side mold and can be driven to extend into the side mold along the axial direction. The bottom mold, side mold and upper mold work together to form the molding cavity.

[0007] Furthermore, the hot-pressing temperature control component includes: A heat exchange support is disposed around the outer periphery of the side mold, and a medium flow cavity is formed between the heat exchange support and the side mold; A hot and cold medium circulation pipeline is connected to the medium flow cavity and is used to deliver steam or cooling medium into the medium flow cavity to achieve heat conduction control of the side mold.

[0008] Furthermore, this also includes: A support column, one end of which is fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the bottom mold, and the other end is supported on a fixed reference surface, so that the bottom mold maintains a distance from the ground; The mold lifting drive mechanism has its output end connected to the heat exchange support base, and is used to drive the heat exchange support base and the side mold to move in the vertical direction.

[0009] Furthermore, this also includes: A sealing dam is fixedly installed on the top of the heat exchange support. The sealing dam forms a vertically extending enclosure structure around the upper port of the side mold, and the internal space of the sealing dam covers the area above the molding cavity. The atmosphere control component includes: A sealing top cover is provided, which covers the sealing dike, and the projected area of ​​the sealing top cover is larger than the opening size of the sealing dike. A gas distribution chamber is fixed to the surface of the sealing top cover facing the sealing dam. The bottom of the gas distribution chamber has multiple gas diffusion holes. The end of the upper mold is fixed to the sealing top cover and passes through the inside of the gas distribution chamber. A gas pipeline passes through the sealed top cover and connects to the gas distribution chamber; a solenoid valve is provided on the gas pipeline. The gas pipeline includes a vacuum extraction pipeline and an inert gas delivery pipeline.

[0010] Furthermore, it also includes a powder fabric assembly, the powder fabric assembly comprising: The feeding hopper has an openable and closable feeding valve at the bottom and a sealing cover at the top, which is used to hold premixed powder materials. A translation drive module drives the feeding hopper and the sealing top cover to move horizontally above the molding die.

[0011] Furthermore, it also includes a negative pressure leveling component, which comprises: An electric slide table is arranged along the length of the feeding hopper; A leveling head is fixed to the output end of the electric slide and is arranged perpendicular to the electric slide. The cross-sectional dimensions of the leveling head are adapted to the opening dimensions of the forming cavity. Two scrapers are arranged along the outer periphery of the leveling head and are respectively located on both sides of the leveling head. A negative pressure generator, which is connected to the leveling head through a pipeline, is used to generate a negative pressure adsorption force at the leveling head and remove excess powder after the leveling head sweeps over the forming cavity.

[0012] Furthermore, the negative pressure generator includes: A negative pressure pipe penetrates the side wall of the feeding hopper, and one end of the negative pressure pipe located inside the feeding hopper is connected to a filter cartridge; A connecting pipe extends through the bottom of the feeding hopper. One end of the connecting pipe is located at the end of the negative pressure pipe, and the other end is connected to two adsorption seats through a connector. The adsorption seats are respectively embedded on both sides of the flattening head.

[0013] Furthermore, it also includes a vertical pressure actuator, which is disposed above the molding die. The output end of the vertical pressure actuator acts on the sealing top cover to drive the sealing top cover to press down to close the sealing dam, and drives the upper die to apply axial pressure to the powder material.

[0014] A method for foaming and molding a nickel-chromium composite AB-type hydrogen storage alloy porous material includes the following steps: S1. Material feeding and leveling: The powder material is filled into the molding cavity, and the powder surface is leveled. S2. Sealing and vacuuming: The space above the molding cavity is sealed off, and the molding cavity and its surrounding environment are evacuated to a vacuum state through the atmosphere control component. S3. Hot pressing densification: The molding cavity is heated to the recrystallization temperature by the hot pressing temperature control component, and mechanical pressure is applied at the same time to densify the powder material to form a precursor. S4. Atmosphere replacement and in-situ demolding: Inert gas is introduced into the sealed space where the molding cavity is located, and then the lateral constraints on the precursor are released, so that the precursor is exposed to the inert gas environment. S5. Foaming and cooling: The temperature is raised to the solid-liquid two-phase region temperature of the alloy by the hot pressing temperature control component, so that the precursor foams. After foaming, a cooling medium is introduced for rapid cooling.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the technical solution of this application has the following beneficial technical effects: The atmosphere control component of this invention is directly connected to the molding cavity, allowing the switching between vacuum and inert gas environments to be completed within the enclosed molding space. The entire process from densification to foaming of powder materials does not require transfer to other equipment, completely eliminating the risk of oxidation of the high-temperature blank exposed to air and ensuring the stability of alloy surface activity and foaming quality. At the same time, the hot-pressing temperature control component is thermally coupled to the molding mold, enabling the sequential application of the temperature and pressure load required for densification, the solid-liquid two-phase temperature field required for foaming, and rapid cooling conditions at the same location according to process requirements. This achieves precise and continuous control of temperature and pressure parameters, avoiding temperature fluctuations and repeated heating energy consumption caused by equipment transfer, significantly shortening the production cycle and improving energy utilization efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall connection structure of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure from another perspective of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure of the atmosphere control component of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure between the material supply hopper and the negative pressure leveling component of the present invention; Figure 5 For the present invention Figure 4 Enlarged view of point A in the middle; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the material supply hopper of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure between the sealing dike and the heat exchange bearing seat of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure between the sealing ring and the sealing dam of the present invention; Figure 9 For the present invention Figure 8 Enlarged view at point B in the middle; Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure between the upper mold and the side mold of the present invention; Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure where the upper mold detaches from the side mold of the present invention; Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure when the side mold descends relative to the bottom mold according to the present invention.

[0017] In the diagram: 1. Molding mold; 101. Bottom mold; 102. Side mold; 103. Upper mold; 2. Atmosphere control assembly; 201. Sealing top cover; 202. Gas distribution chamber; 203. Gas diffusion hole; 204. Gas pipeline; 205. Solenoid valve; 3. Hot press temperature control assembly; 301. Heat exchange bearing seat; 302. Hot and cold medium circulation pipeline; 4. Support column; 5. Mold lifting drive mechanism; 6. Sealing dam; 7. Feeding hopper; 8. Feeding valve; 9. Negative pressure leveling assembly; 901. Electric slide table; 902. Leveling head; 903. Scraper; 10. Negative pressure pipe; 11. Filter cartridge; 12. Connecting pipe; 13. Adsorption seat; 14. Vertical pressure actuator; 15. Connecting seat; 16. Sealing ring. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0019] This invention discloses a foaming and molding device for nickel-chromium composite AB-type hydrogen storage alloy porous materials. This device integrates multiple functions, including powder feeding, vacuum densification, inert atmosphere-protected foaming, and in-situ demolding, realizing continuous and automated production from powder materials to porous finished products. The device mainly includes a molding die 1, an atmosphere control component 2, and a hot-pressing temperature control component 3, which work together to complete the foaming and molding process of the nickel-chromium composite AB-type hydrogen storage alloy porous materials.

[0020] The molding die 1 defines a molding cavity for containing powdered material, such as... Figure 1 and Figure 8 As shown, the molding cavity is enclosed by a three-section mold structure. Specifically, the molding mold 1 includes a bottom mold 101, a side mold 102, and an upper mold 103. The bottom mold 101 forms a horizontal bearing surface, which is precision machined to ensure the uniformity of stress on the powder material during the densification process. The bottom mold 101 is preferably made of high-strength alloy steel, and its surface is hardened to improve its wear resistance and resistance to high-temperature deformation. The annular wall of the side mold 102 fits with the outer periphery of the bottom mold 101 to define the lateral boundary of the molding cavity. In this embodiment, the side mold 102 adopts a rectangular structure, and its inner diameter forms a clearance fit of 0.05-0.1mm with the outer diameter of the bottom mold 101. There is a relative sliding relationship between the side mold 102 and the bottom mold 101. This sliding fit relationship ensures the sealing of the molding cavity and allows the two to generate relative displacement in the vertical direction to achieve the demolding function. The upper mold 103 is coaxially positioned above the side mold 102 and can be driven axially into the side mold 102. The lower end face of the upper mold 103 is designed as a flat surface or with a micro-protrusion structure to adapt to the compaction requirements of different powder materials. The bottom mold 101, side mold 102, and upper mold 103 work together to form a molding cavity. Compared with the traditional integral mold, this three-section split structure not only facilitates the filling and demolding of powder materials, but more importantly, it creates the structural conditions for subsequent in-situ foaming treatment.

[0021] The hot-pressing temperature control component 3 is mounted on the molding die 1 and is used to apply a densification temperature and pressure load to the powder material in a vacuum environment, and to provide a foaming thermal field and cooling heat exchange conditions corresponding to the solid-liquid two-phase region of the alloy in an inert gas environment. Figure 2 and Figure 7As shown, specifically, the hot-pressing temperature control assembly 3 includes a heat exchange support 301 and a hot / cold medium circulation pipeline 302. The heat exchange support 301 is arranged around the outer periphery of the side mold 102. In this embodiment, the heat exchange support 301 has a rectangular structure, and a medium flow cavity is formed between the heat exchange support 301 and the side mold 102. The annular gap of the medium flow cavity is designed to be 30-40mm, which ensures both the fluidity of the heat medium and the heat conduction efficiency. A heat insulation sheet is also provided between the heat exchange support 301 and the side mold 102 to ensure that the medium flow cavity is kept at a high or low temperature for a long time. The hot and cold medium circulation pipeline 302 is connected to the medium flow cavity and is used to transport steam or cooling medium into the medium flow cavity to achieve heat conduction control of the side mold 102. The inlet and outlet ends of the hot and cold medium circulation pipeline 302 are located on opposite sides of the heat exchange carrier 301, forming a hot medium flow path of back in and front out, which promotes forced convection of the hot medium in the medium flow cavity and eliminates the temperature dead zone. At the same time, a corresponding solenoid valve is also installed on the hot and cold medium circulation pipeline 302 to close the medium flow cavity when the corresponding steam is introduced, so that the inside of the medium flow cavity is kept at a constant temperature and to prevent the temperature from falling too fast. During the densification stage, superheated steam at a temperature of 650-750℃ is introduced into the medium flow cavity. The latent heat and sensible heat of the steam heat the side mold 102 and the powder material inside it to above the recrystallization temperature. During the foaming stage, the steam temperature is further increased to 850-950℃, so that the precursor temperature reaches the solid-liquid two-phase temperature range of the nickel-chromium composite AB type alloy. During the cooling stage, the medium supply of the hot and cold medium circulation pipeline 302 is switched, and circulating water or cooling oil at a temperature of 15-25℃ is introduced to achieve rapid cooling of the foamed structure. The cooling rate is controlled at 50-100℃ / min to solidify the pore structure and prevent pore collapse. The inlet of the hot and cold medium circulation pipeline 302 is connected to the upstream cold-end medium generator and the hot-end medium generator through a connector, and the outlet of the hot and cold medium circulation pipeline 302 is connected to the downstream cold-end medium recovery unit and the hot-end medium recovery unit through a connector.

[0022] To achieve in-situ demolding of the precursor, the device also includes a support column 4 and a mold lifting drive mechanism 5. One end of the support column 4 is fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the bottom mold 101, and the other end is supported on a fixed reference surface, maintaining a distance between the bottom mold 101 and the ground. Figure 7As shown, in this embodiment, the number of support columns 4 is at least four and they are evenly distributed circumferentially. The support columns 4 are preferably made of stainless steel round bars or square tubes, and their cross-sectional dimensions are selected according to the load-bearing requirements of the bottom mold 101. The support columns 4 keep the bottom mold 101 suspended in space, reserving space for the descent movement of the side mold 102. The output end of the mold lifting drive mechanism 5 is connected to the heat exchange bearing seat 301, and is used to drive the heat exchange bearing seat 301 and the side mold 102 to move in the vertical direction. The mold lifting drive mechanism 5 can be an actuator such as a pneumatic push rod, a hydraulic cylinder, or an electric push rod. In this preferred embodiment, a pneumatic push rod structure is used, and its stroke is set to 100-150mm, which is sufficient to meet the relative displacement required for demolding. When the mold lifting drive mechanism 5 drives the side mold 102 to descend, the bottom mold 101 is held in position by the support column 4, realizing the ejection movement of the bottom mold 101 relative to the side mold 102. At this time, the molded precursor rises together with the bottom mold 101 and gets away from the lateral constraint of the side mold 102. This demolding process is completed in a closed inert atmosphere environment, which effectively avoids the oxidation problem of the high temperature precursor in the air.

[0023] To ensure that the precursor remains under a controlled atmosphere after demolding, such as Figure 1 and Figure 7 As shown, the device also includes a sealing dam 6. The sealing dam 6 is fixedly installed on the top of the heat exchange support 301. The sealing dam 6 forms a vertically extending enclosure structure around the upper port of the side mold 102, and its internal space covers the area above the molding cavity. The sealing dam 6 has a square cylindrical structure with a height of 80-120mm and an inner diameter 20-40mm larger than the outer diameter of the bottom mold 101, thus creating sufficient accommodating space above the molding cavity. After the bottom mold 101 descends with the side mold 102 to achieve demolding, the precursor remains within the enclosure of the sealing dam 6; this space is the demolding accommodating area. The top edge of the sealing dam 6 is precision machined to form a flat sealing surface, creating conditions for subsequent airtight sealing.

[0024] Atmosphere control component 2 is connected to the molding cavity to alternately create a vacuum or inert gas environment. The core function of this component is to switch the atmosphere state of the molding cavity and the space above it. Figure 1 and Figure 3As shown, specifically, the atmosphere control component 2 includes a sealing top cover 201, a gas distribution chamber 202, a gas pipeline 204, and a solenoid valve 205. The sealing top cover 201 covers the sealing dam 6, and the projected area of ​​the sealing top cover 201 is larger than the opening size of the sealing dam 6. In this embodiment, the sealing top cover 201 is designed as a plate structure, and its peripheral dimension is 15-25mm larger than the opening size of the sealing dam 6. The lower surface of the sealing top cover 201 is machined with an annular sealing groove, and a sealing ring 16 is embedded in the groove. The sealing ring 16 is either a high-temperature resistant silicone rubber sealing ring or a graphite sealing ring. When the sealing top cover 201 moves down, the outer surface of the sealing ring 16 can contact the inner surface of the sealing dam 6. Figure 9 As shown, the opening of the sealing dam 6 is sealed. The gas distribution chamber 202 is fixed to the side surface of the sealing top cover 201 facing the sealing dam 6 and located inside the sealing ring 16. The gas distribution chamber 202 has a flat rectangular cavity structure, and its length and width are slightly smaller than those of the sealing top cover 201. The bottom of the gas distribution chamber 202 has multiple gas diffusion holes 203, which are arranged in an array. The hole diameter is designed to be 2-5 mm and the hole spacing is 20-30 mm. This distribution method ensures that the gas is evenly diffused into the entire space inside the sealing dam 6. The end of the upper mold 103 is fixed to the sealing top cover 201 and passes through the gas distribution chamber 202. The top of the upper mold 103 passes through the gas distribution chamber 202 and is fixed to the sealing top cover 201 through a threaded connection or flange connection. The working end face of the upper mold 103 is located below the gas distribution chamber 202. When the sealing top cover 201 is pressed down, the upper mold 103 descends and enters the forming cavity to pressurize the powder material. The gas pipeline 204 passes through the sealed top cover 201 and connects to the gas distribution chamber 202. A solenoid valve 205 is installed on the gas pipeline 204. The gas pipeline 204 includes a vacuum extraction pipeline and an inert gas delivery pipeline. In this embodiment, two gas pipelines 204 are provided, one connected to a vacuum pump and the other connected to an inert gas source such as argon or nitrogen. The control system switches the gas pipeline status according to process requirements to achieve alternating vacuuming and gas filling operations. When a vacuum environment needs to be established, the solenoid valve 205 connected to the vacuum pump is opened, and the air in the space enclosed by the sealed weir 6 and the forming cavity is extracted through the gas distribution chamber 202 and the gas diffusion hole 203, achieving a vacuum degree of 10. -1 Up to 10 -2 Pa; When an inert atmosphere needs to be established, close the solenoid valve 205 of the vacuum line and open the solenoid valve 205 of the inert gas line, so that argon or nitrogen is evenly distributed into the sealed dam 6 through the gas distribution chamber 202, and the gas pressure is controlled at a slightly positive pressure of 0.01-0.05 MPa. Figure 11 As shown, the opening of the sealing dam 6 is sealed by the sealing ring 16, and a vacuum operation is performed in this area.

[0025] To achieve automated feeding of powdered materials, such as Figure 1 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the device also includes a powder feeding assembly, which comprises a feeding hopper 7 and a translation drive module. The feeding hopper 7 has an openable / closable feeding valve 8 at its bottom and a sealing cover at its top for holding premixed powder material. The feeding hopper 7 has a vertically arranged box structure, and its volume is designed according to the amount used in a single molding cycle, typically 1.5-2 times the volume of the molding cavity, to ensure an ample supply of powder material and allowance for leveling. The top sealing cover of the feeding hopper 7 adopts a quick-opening structure, equipped with hinges and latches, facilitating the operator to open the cover and add powder material. Figure 6 As shown, the feeding valve 8 is located at the bottom center of the feeding hopper 7, and adopts a pneumatic gate valve or electric slide gate valve structure. The valve opening is adjustable to control the feeding speed and amount of powder material. The translation drive module drives the feeding hopper 7 and the sealing top cover 201 to move horizontally above the molding die 1. In this embodiment, the translation drive module includes a screw drive mechanism and a drive motor. The screw is arranged horizontally and fixed to the frame through a bearing seat. The feeding hopper 7 and the sealing top cover 201 are respectively fixed to the transmission block of the screw through the connecting seat 15. When the drive motor drives the screw to rotate, the transmission block moves along the screw axis, causing the feeding hopper 7 and the sealing top cover 201 to switch above the molding die 1. During the feeding stage, the translation drive module moves the feeding hopper 7 to directly above the molding die 1 and opens the feeding valve 8 to allow the powder material to fall into the molding cavity. After feeding is completed, the translation drive module moves the feeding hopper 7 away and simultaneously moves the sealing top cover 201 above the molding die 1 for subsequent compaction and foaming operations. This translation drive module can also adopt other forms such as a cylinder-driven guide rail slider mechanism or a chain drive mechanism.

[0026] To improve the filling quality of powder materials in the molding cavity, such as Figure 1 , Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown, the device also includes a negative pressure leveling component 9, which includes an electric slide table 901, a leveling head 902, a scraper 903, and a negative pressure generator. The electric slide table 901 is arranged along the length of the feeding hopper 7 and is fixed to the bottom of the feeding hopper 7. Its sliding stroke covers the width range of the molding cavity opening. The leveling head 902 is fixed to the output end of the electric slide table 901 and is set perpendicular to the electric slide table 901. The cross-sectional dimensions of the leveling head 902 are adapted to the opening size of the molding cavity. The leveling head 902 has a long strip structure, and its length is equal to or slightly larger than the length of the molding cavity opening. The cross-sectional shape is rectangular or trapezoidal. The bottom surface of the leveling head 902 is a flat working surface. The height of this working surface from the surface of the bottom mold 101 can be finely adjusted by the adjustment mechanism. It is usually set to be 5-10 mm higher than the stacking height of the powder material after filling. Two scrapers 903 are arranged along the outer periphery of the leveling head 902, one on each side of the leveling head 902. The scrapers 903 have a thin plate structure and can be made of elastic steel or hard rubber. They form a small gap or light contact with the surface of the bottom mold 101. When the electric slide table 901 drives the leveling head 902 to sweep over the top of the forming cavity, the scrapers 903 scrape away excess powder material that is higher than the set height to the designated position. Figure 7 At position 'a' as indicated in the diagram, one of the adsorption seats 13 is activated. This adsorption seat 13 adsorbs excess material powder accumulated there. It should be noted that accumulating the material powder at the designated location before adsorption effectively prevents the powder inside the molding cavity from being affected by the adsorption effect, thus avoiding the powder being adsorbed away. This process ensures that only excess material powder is adsorbed. There are two positions 'a', arranged opposite each other. A negative pressure generator is connected to the leveling head 902 via a pipeline to generate negative pressure adsorption at the leveling head 902. After the leveling head 902 sweeps over the molding cavity, it removes excess powder. Specifically, the negative pressure generator includes a negative pressure pipe 10 and a connecting pipe 12. The negative pressure pipe 10 penetrates the side wall of the feeding hopper 7. One end of the negative pressure pipe 10 inside the feeding hopper 7 is connected to a filter cartridge 11. The filter cartridge 11 adopts a multi-layer metal wire mesh or sintered filter element structure with a filtration accuracy of 50-100 mesh, allowing gas to pass through while preventing powder material from entering the negative pressure pipe 10 and causing blockage. The outer end of the negative pressure pipe 10 is connected to a vacuum pump or a Venturi negative pressure generator. The connecting pipe 12 passes through the bottom of the feeding hopper 7. One end of the connecting pipe 12 is located at the end of the negative pressure pipe 10, and the other end is connected to two adsorption seats 13 via a connector. The adsorption seats 13 are respectively embedded on both sides of the leveling head 902. The connecting pipe 12 has a T-shaped or Y-shaped branch structure, distributing the negative pressure of the negative pressure pipe 10 to the adsorption seats 13 on both sides of the leveling head 902. When the negative pressure generator is working, a negative pressure adsorption zone is formed at the adsorption seats 13. It should be noted that the scraper 903 moves in a reciprocating cycle multiple times, moving towards... Figure 7After the material is placed at position a, it is adsorbed again. During the adsorption process, the adsorption seat 13 at the adjacent position is connected. For example, after the scraper 903 moves to the right, the adsorption seat 13 on the right is connected. Conversely, when the scraper 903 moves to the left, it can scrape the excess powder to the corresponding other position a. At this time, the adsorption seat 13 on the left is connected. The excess powder material scraped by the scraper 903 is sucked into the adsorption seat 13 under the action of negative pressure. It is then recovered to the feeding hopper 7 through the connecting pipe 12 and the negative pressure pipe 10, realizing the closed-loop recovery of the excess material. It should be noted that the connecting pipe 12 is a corrugated telescopic hose, which can adaptively extend or shorten during the displacement of the adsorption seat 13.

[0027] To apply the mechanical pressure required for densification of powder materials, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the device also includes a vertical pressure actuator 14. The vertical pressure actuator 14 is positioned above the forming mold 1. The output end of the vertical pressure actuator 14 acts on the sealing top cover 201, driving the sealing top cover 201 downwards to close the sealing dam 6, and driving the upper mold 103 to apply axial pressure to the powder material. The vertical pressure actuator 14 can be a hydraulic cylinder, a servo electric cylinder, or a mechanical press. In this embodiment, a hydraulic cylinder structure is used, with a rated output force of 50-200 tons and a stroke of 150-200 mm. The cylinder body of the vertical pressure actuator 14 is fixed to the crossbeam at the top of the frame. A pressure plate is provided at the end of the piston rod, and the pressure plate contacts the upper surface of the sealing top cover 201. It should be noted that there is no connection between the pressure plate and the sealing top cover 201; during the application of axial pressure, the pressure plate directly rests against the sealing top cover 201. During operation, the vertical pressure actuator 14 first lowers the sealing top cover 201 with a small force, forming an airtight seal between the sealing top cover 201 and the sealing dam 6. The clamping force at this stage is approximately 5-10 tons. Subsequently, after vacuuming or filling with inert gas, the vertical pressure actuator 14 continues to increase its output force, pushing the sealing top cover 201 further down. This causes the upper mold 103 to penetrate deeper into the molding cavity, applying compressive stress to the powder material. The compaction pressure is set to 50-150 MPa depending on the characteristics of the powder material. The pressure and displacement of the vertical pressure actuator 14 can be precisely adjusted through a hydraulic control system or a servo control system to achieve segmented pressurization and pressure holding control.

[0028] After the axial pressure is applied, in order to ensure that the sealing top cover 201 returns to its original position, an elastic element is provided between the sealing top cover 201 and the connecting seat 15. The elastic element is preferably a stainless steel spring. During the application of axial pressure, the pressure of the vertical pressure actuator 14 deforms the elastic element. At this time, the sealing top cover 201 can be pressed on the top of the closed sealing dam 6. When the output end of the vertical pressure actuator 14 returns to its original position, the elastic element can be restored. The tension of the elastic element can restore the sealing top cover 201 to its original position, that is, the upper mold 103 is located above the closed sealing dam 6.

[0029] In actual operation of the device, the components work together according to the following process flow. The operator first opens the sealing cover on top of the feeding hopper 7 and adds a mixture of pre-mixed nickel-chromium composite AB-type hydrogen storage alloy powder and foaming agent powder (such as TiH2 powder) into the feeding hopper 7. The amount of foaming agent added is typically 0.5-2% of the alloy powder mass, and the particle size distribution of the mixture is controlled within the range of 45-150μm. Then, the translation drive module is activated to fill the molding cavity with powder material. Specifically, the drive motor rotates the lead screw, moving the feeding hopper 7 directly above the molding mold 1. At this time, the molding cavity formed by the side mold 102 and the bottom mold 101 is open. The operator or the automatic control system opens the feeding valve 8, and the powder mixture falls into the molding cavity under gravity through the feeding valve 8. The amount of material fed is controlled to be 1.2-1.5 times the volume of the molding cavity, forming a powder accumulation higher than the upper surface of the side mold 102. After the material is fed, the negative pressure leveling component 9 is activated to level the powder surface. The electric slide table 901 drives the leveling head 902 to move back and forth along the length of the feeding hopper 7. The scraper 903 of the leveling head 902 scrapes the powder that is higher than the set height and finally scrapes the excess powder to the designated position. Finally, the negative pressure generator is activated. The negative pressure adsorption force of the adsorption seat 13 on one side sucks in the excess powder and recovers it to the feeding hopper 7 through the pipeline system. After leveling back and forth 2-3 times, the powder surface in the molding cavity reaches a flat state and the bulk density increases to 1.2-1.3 times the loose density.

[0030] After leveling, the translation drive module moves the material supply hopper 7 away, and simultaneously moves the sealing top cover 201 above the molding die 1. The gas distribution chamber 202 on the lower surface of the sealing top cover 201 is aligned with the opening of the sealing dam 6. The vertical pressure actuator 14 is activated to push the sealing top cover 201 down with a small force, sealing the space above the molding cavity. The outer wall of the sealing ring 16 on the lower surface of the sealing top cover 201 contacts the inner wall of the sealing dam 6, forming an airtight structure. Figure 8 As shown, at this time, the forming cavity, the internal space of the sealing dam 6, and the gas distribution cavity 202 form a connected closed cavity.

[0031] Subsequently, the atmosphere control component 2 is used to evacuate the molding cavity and its surrounding environment to a vacuum state. Specifically, the control system opens the solenoid valve 205 connected to the vacuum pump, and the vacuum pump extracts air from the sealed cavity through the gas pipeline 204, the gas distribution chamber 202, and the gas diffusion hole 203. The evacuation time lasts for 5-15 minutes, and the vacuum degree reaches 10. -1 Up to 10 -2 Pa. The purpose of establishing a vacuum environment is to remove oxygen and water vapor from the air, preventing the powder material from oxidizing at high temperatures. At the same time, the vacuum environment facilitates the expulsion of gas between powder particles, improving the densification effect.

[0032] After the vacuum environment is established, the densification stage begins. The molding cavity is heated to the recrystallization temperature using the hot-pressing temperature control component 3. The control system opens the steam supply valve of the hot and cold medium circulation pipeline 302, introducing superheated steam at 650-750℃ into the medium flow cavity between the heat exchange support 301 and the side mold 102. The heat from the steam is transferred to the side mold 102 via heat conduction, thereby heating the powder material within the molding cavity. For nickel-chromium composite AB-type hydrogen storage alloys, the recrystallization temperature range is typically 600-700℃, and the heating time lasts 10-20 minutes, ensuring the powder material temperature uniformly reaches above the recrystallization temperature. At this point, the alloy powder is in a highly ductile state, with enhanced grain boundary activity. Simultaneously, mechanical pressure is applied to densify the powder material, forming a precursor. When the powder temperature reaches the set value, the control system instructs the vertical pressure actuator 14 to continue increasing the output force, pushing the sealing top cover 201 and the upper mold 103 downwards. Figure 10 As shown, the upper mold 103 enters the molding cavity and applies axial compressive stress to the powder material. The pressure gradually increases to 50-150 MPa, and the holding time is 5-15 minutes. Under the combined effect of temperature and pressure, the powder particles undergo plastic deformation and diffusion bonding, and the pores between the particles are compressed and eliminated, ultimately forming a precursor with a density of over 95%. This precursor has a non-porous or microporous structure, and foaming agent particles are uniformly dispersed inside.

[0033] After densification is completed, the atmosphere replacement stage begins. First, the output end of the vertical pressure actuator 14 is moved upwards a short distance. At this point, under the restoring action of the elastic element, the sealing top cover 201 partially returns to its original position, allowing the upper mold 103 to detach from the molding cavity. Figure 11As shown, the control system then closes the solenoid valve 205 of the vacuum pump and opens the solenoid valve 205 of the inert gas pipeline, filling the sealed space containing the molding cavity with inert gas. Argon or nitrogen enters the closed space enclosed by the sealing dam 6 and the molding cavity through the gas pipeline 204, the gas distribution chamber 202, and the gas diffusion hole 203. The filling pressure is controlled at a slightly positive pressure of 0.01-0.05 MPa, and the filling time lasts for 3-5 minutes, replacing the residual vacuum in the closed space with an inert atmosphere. The establishment of the inert atmosphere provides antioxidant protection for the subsequent high-temperature foaming process.

[0034] Subsequently, the lateral constraints on the precursor are released, exposing it to an inert gas environment. Specifically, the control system commands the vertical pressure actuator 14 to return, releasing the pressure on the sealing top cover 201 and the upper mold 103. Under the restoring force of the elastic element, the upper mold 103 moves upward, simultaneously activating the mold lifting drive mechanism 5. A pneumatic push rod or hydraulic cylinder drives the heat exchange bearing seat 301, causing the side mold 102 to descend as a whole, with a stroke of 100-150mm. Since the bottom mold 101 is fixed to the reference plane by the support column 4, the bottom mold 101 remains stationary when the side mold 102 descends, forming an upward movement of the bottom mold 101 relative to the side mold 102. The formed precursor rises relative to the bottom mold 101, partially detaching from the lateral constraints of the side mold 102, entering the demolding containment area defined by the sealing dam 6, and remaining there for a period of time. Figure 12 As shown. It should be noted that during the entire demolding process, the sealing ring 16 remains in contact with the sealing dam 6 to maintain an airtight state. The precursor is exposed to an inert atmosphere without contacting air, thus avoiding high-temperature oxidation.

[0035] After demolding, the foaming stage begins immediately. The temperature is raised to the solid-liquid two-phase region temperature of the alloy by the hot-pressing temperature control component 3, causing the precursor to foam. The control system adjusts the steam supply of the hot and cold medium circulation pipeline 302 to increase the steam temperature to 850-950℃, quickly raising the precursor temperature to the solid-liquid two-phase region temperature range of the nickel-chromium composite AB type alloy, which is usually 800-900℃, with the heating rate controlled at 50-80℃ / min. Once the precursor temperature reaches the solid-liquid two-phase region, the alloy matrix partially melts into a semi-solid state, significantly enhancing its fluidity. At this point, the foaming agent TiH2 inside the precursor begins thermal decomposition, with the reaction equation being TiH2→Ti+H2↑. The decomposition temperature is approximately 450-600℃. During the densification stage of the precursor, the temperature has not yet reached the complete decomposition temperature, and the foaming agent only partially decomposes. However, under the high temperature during the foaming stage, the foaming agent rapidly and completely decomposes, releasing a large amount of hydrogen gas. This hydrogen gas forms bubble nuclei within the semi-solid alloy matrix. Under internal pressure, the bubbles continuously grow, eventually forming a uniformly distributed pore structure with a porosity of 60-80% and a pore size distribution ranging from 0.5-3 mm. The foaming time lasts 5-10 minutes; too short a time results in insufficient pore development, while too long a time may lead to pore merging and coarsening or excessive melting of the matrix.

[0036] After foaming, rapid cooling is essential to solidify the pore structure. After foaming, a cooling medium is circulated through the hot / cold medium circulation pipe 302 for rapid cooling. Circulating water or cooling oil at 15-25℃ is introduced into the medium flow chamber. The cooling medium removes heat from the heat exchange support 301 and the side mold 102, achieving rapid cooling of the foamed structure. The cooling rate is controlled at 50-100℃ / min. Rapid cooling causes the semi-solid alloy matrix to solidify quickly, fixing and preserving the pore structure. If the cooling rate is too slow, the semi-solid matrix will flow under surface tension, leading to pore collapse or deformation. Cooling time lasts 15-30 minutes until the foamed structure temperature drops below 200℃. After cooling, the control system instructs the vertical pressure actuator 14 to fully return, and the mold lifting drive mechanism 5 drives the side mold 102 to its lowest position, achieving complete demolding. The operator or robot removes the finished product from the bottom mold 101, completing one foaming molding cycle.

[0037] This invention's device, through the combination of a three-section mold structure and an in-situ demolding mechanism, achieves continuous processing of the precursor from densification to foaming. It eliminates the need to remove the precursor from the mold and transfer it to the foaming furnace, avoiding oxidation risks and temperature fluctuations during transport. Simultaneously, the cooperation between the sealing dam 6 and the atmosphere control component 2 ensures the entire process is completed under a controlled atmosphere, significantly improving the yield and performance stability of porous materials. The hot-pressing temperature control component 3 integrates heating and cooling functions through heat exchange in the medium flow chamber. The negative pressure leveling component 9 combines mechanical leveling with negative pressure adsorption, improving the flatness and density uniformity of powder filling while automatically recovering excess material, reducing powder waste. The entire device boasts a high degree of automation; each actuator can be programmed via PLC or industrial computer. Operators only need to complete powder feeding and finished product removal, shortening the entire molding cycle to 30-60 minutes and increasing production efficiency by more than 50% compared to traditional processes.

[0038] The present invention also discloses a foaming molding method for nickel-chromium composite AB-type hydrogen storage alloy porous materials based on the above-mentioned device. This method achieves integrated continuous preparation from powder materials to porous finished products through five key steps.

[0039] S1, Fabric and Leveling The powder material is filled into the molding cavity. First, the premixed nickel-chromium composite AB-type hydrogen storage alloy powder and foaming agent mixture are fed into the feeding hopper 7. The powder material consists of alloy powder and metal hydride foaming agent, preferably TiH2, ZrH2, or CaH2, with an addition amount of 0.5-2% of the alloy powder mass and a particle size distribution controlled at 45-150μm. The feeding hopper 7 is moved to directly above the molding die 1 by the translation drive module, and the feeding valve 8 is opened, allowing the powder mixture to fall into the molding cavity. The feeding amount is 1.2-1.5 times the theoretical volume of the molding cavity.

[0040] The powder surface is then leveled. After feeding, the negative pressure leveling component 9 is activated, and the electric slide 901 drives the leveling head 902 to sweep back and forth. The scraper 903 scrapes away the powder that is higher than the reference surface. Excess powder is sucked into the leveling head 902 under the action of negative pressure adsorption force and is then recovered to the feeding hopper 7 through the pipeline system. After 2-3 rounds of leveling, the flatness of the powder surface in the forming cavity reaches within ±0.2mm, and the bulk density increases from 45-55% to 55-65%, creating a uniform initial state for subsequent densification.

[0041] S2, Sealing and Vacuuming After leveling, the translation drive module moves the material supply hopper 7 away and simultaneously moves the sealing top cover 201 above the molding mold 1. This seals the space above the molding cavity. The vertical pressure actuator 14 is then activated, using a clamping force of 5-10 tons to push the sealing top cover 201 down, pressing its lower surface sealing ring against the top sealing surface of the sealing dam 6, forming an airtight structure. At this point, the molding cavity, the space enclosed by the sealing dam 6, and the gas distribution cavity 202 form a connected, closed cavity.

[0042] The atmosphere control component 2 evacuates the molding cavity and its surrounding environment to a vacuum state. The control system opens the solenoid valve 205 connected to the vacuum pump, and the vacuum pump uniformly extracts the gas from the sealed cavity through the gas pipeline 204, gas distribution chamber 202, and gas diffusion hole 203. Vacuuming is controlled in stages: initially, the maximum pumping speed reduces the pressure from atmospheric pressure to 1000 Pa, taking 3-5 minutes; in the middle stage, the pumping speed is reduced to prevent powder from being lifted, and the pressure is reduced to 10 Pa, taking 5-8 minutes; in the later stage, the pumping speed is stabilized, and the final vacuum level reaches 10 Pa. -1 Up to 10 -2 Pa, total time 10-15 minutes. Establishing a high vacuum environment can eliminate oxygen and water vapor, avoid high-temperature oxidation of alloy powder, and promote gas removal between powder particles, thus improving densification quality.

[0043] S3, Hot pressing densification After vacuum stabilization, the process enters the hot-pressing densification stage. The hot-pressing temperature control component 3 heats the molding cavity to the recrystallization temperature. The control system opens the steam inlet valve of the heat medium circulation pipeline 302, introducing 650-750℃ superheated steam into the medium flow chamber between the heat exchange support 301 and the side mold 102. The steam flows from bottom to top, creating forced convection, and heat is transferred to the side mold 102 and the powder material through heat conduction. The heating rate is set to 30-50℃ / min, heating the powder to 650-720℃ for 10-20 minutes, ensuring the powder reaches above the recrystallization temperature and enters a highly plastic state.

[0044] Simultaneously, mechanical pressure is applied to densify the powder material, forming a precursor. When the powder temperature reaches the set value, the vertical pressure actuator 14 increases the output force, pushing the sealing top cover 201 and the upper mold 103 downwards. The upper mold 103 enters the molding cavity to apply axial compressive stress. The pressurization employs multi-stage loading: first, a pre-pressure of 20-40 MPa is applied and held for 2-3 minutes to allow initial contact and rearrangement of the powder particles; then, the pressure is increased to 50-100 MPa and held for 3-5 minutes to promote plastic deformation of the particles; finally, the pressure is increased to 100-150 MPa and held for 5-10 minutes to achieve full diffusion and welding between the particles. Under the synergistic effect of temperature and pressure, the powder particles plastically flow, the oxide film on the particle surface breaks down, fresh metal surfaces contact and solid-state diffusion bonding occurs, and the pores between particles are compressed and eliminated, ultimately forming a precursor with a density of 95-98%, containing uniformly dispersed, incompletely decomposed foaming agent particles.

[0045] S4. Atmosphere replacement and in-situ demolding After densification is completed, the atmosphere must be switched immediately to prevent oxidation during the subsequent high-temperature foaming stage. Inert gas is introduced into the sealed space containing the molding cavity. The control system closes the vacuum pump solenoid valve 205 and simultaneously opens the inert gas source solenoid valve 205. Argon or nitrogen gas enters the sealed cavity through the gas pipeline 204, gas distribution chamber 202, and gas diffusion hole 203. The inflation flow rate is 5-10 L / min, the pressure is 0.01-0.05 MPa (slight positive pressure), and inflation lasts for 3-5 minutes to ensure that the residual vacuum is completely replaced by an inert atmosphere.

[0046] Subsequently, the lateral constraints on the precursor are partially released, exposing the precursor to an inert gas environment. After the atmosphere replacement is completed, the vertical pressure actuator 14 returns and rises, and the upper mold 103 exits the molding cavity. Simultaneously, the mold lifting drive mechanism 5 is activated, driving the heat exchange support 301 to lower the side mold 102 by 100-150mm. Since the bottom mold 101 is fixed to the reference plane by the support column 4 and remains stationary, the descent of the side mold 102 causes the bottom mold 101 to rise relative to it. The precursor rises with the bottom mold 101, detaching from the lateral constraints of the side mold 102 and entering the demolding containment area defined by the sealing dam 6. Throughout the entire partial demolding process, the sealing ring 16 and the sealing dam 6 maintain an airtight seal, and the precursor is completely exposed to the inert atmosphere without contact with air, effectively preventing high-temperature oxidation.

[0047] S5, Foaming and Cooling After demolding, the precursor is in a free state under inert atmosphere protection and immediately enters the foaming stage. The temperature is raised to the solid-liquid two-phase region of the alloy using the hot-pressing temperature control component 3, causing the precursor to foam. The control system adjusts the heat medium circulation pipeline 302 to increase the steam temperature to 850-950℃, rapidly raising the precursor temperature from 650-720℃ to 800-900℃ at a rate of 50-80℃ / min. Once the precursor reaches the solid-liquid two-phase region, the low-melting-point phase of the alloy matrix melts into a semi-solid state, significantly enhancing its fluidity. At this time, the foaming agent TiH2 in the precursor undergoes thermal decomposition, rapidly and completely decomposing at high temperature to release a large amount of hydrogen. The hydrogen forms bubble nuclei within the semi-solid alloy matrix. Driven by internal pressure, the bubbles continuously grow and push aside the surrounding matrix, ultimately forming a uniformly distributed spherical or near-spherical porous structure. A foaming time of 5-10 minutes yields a porous structure with a porosity of 60-80% and a pore size of 0.5-3mm.

[0048] After foaming, a cooling medium is introduced for rapid cooling. Once the foaming time is reached, the control system immediately closes the high-temperature steam supply valve and opens the cooling medium supply valve, introducing 15-25℃ circulating water or cooling oil into the medium flow chamber. Forced convection of the cooling medium removes heat, rapidly cooling the foamed structure at a rate of 50-100℃ / min. This rapid cooling causes the semi-solid alloy matrix to solidify quickly, fixing and preserving the pore shape and size. Cooling is controlled in stages: initial rapid cooling lowers the temperature from 800-900℃ to below 500℃ in 5-8 minutes, ensuring complete solidification of the matrix; intermediate slow cooling lowers the temperature to 200℃ in 8-12 minutes, preventing thermal stress concentration. After cooling to below 200℃, the vertical pressure actuator 14 fully returns to its starting position, and the mold lifting drive mechanism 5 drives the side mold 102 to its lowest point, removing the porous finished product from the bottom mold 101, completing the entire foaming molding cycle, which takes 30-60 minutes.

[0049] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0050] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A foaming and molding device for a nickel-chromium composite AB-type hydrogen storage alloy porous material, characterized in that, include: A molding die (1) defines a molding cavity for containing powdered material; Atmosphere control component (2) is connected to the molding cavity to alternately create a vacuum or inert gas environment; The hot pressing temperature control component (3) is disposed on the molding die (1) and is used to apply a densification temperature and pressure load to the powder material in the vacuum environment and to provide a foaming heat field and cooling heat exchange conditions corresponding to the solid-liquid two-phase region of the alloy in the inert gas environment.

2. The foaming and molding device for a nickel-chromium composite AB-type hydrogen storage alloy porous material according to claim 1, characterized in that, The molding die (1) includes: The bottom mold (101) forms a horizontal bearing surface; The side mold (102) has an annular wall surface that cooperates with the outer periphery of the bottom mold (101) to define the lateral boundary of the molding cavity, and the side mold (102) and the bottom mold (101) have a relative sliding relationship; The upper mold (103) is coaxially disposed above the side mold (102) and can be driven to extend into the side mold (102) along the axial direction. The bottom mold (101), the side mold (102) and the upper mold (103) work together to form the molding cavity.

3. The foaming and molding device for a nickel-chromium composite AB-type hydrogen storage alloy porous material according to claim 2, characterized in that, The hot-pressing temperature control component (3) includes: A heat exchange support (301) is arranged around the outer periphery of the side mold (102), and a medium flow cavity is formed between the heat exchange support (301) and the side mold (102); A hot and cold medium circulation pipeline (302) is connected to the medium flow cavity and is used to deliver steam or cooling medium into the medium flow cavity to achieve heat conduction control of the side mold (102).

4. The foaming and molding device for a nickel-chromium composite AB-type hydrogen storage alloy porous material according to claim 3, characterized in that, Also includes: The support column (4) has one end fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the bottom mold (101) and the other end supported on the fixed reference surface, so that the bottom mold (101) maintains a distance from the ground. The mold lifting drive mechanism (5) has its output end connected to the heat exchange support (301) and is used to drive the heat exchange support (301) and the side mold (102) to move in the vertical direction.

5. The foaming and molding device for a nickel-chromium composite AB-type hydrogen storage alloy porous material according to claim 4, characterized in that, Also includes: A sealing dam (6) is fixedly installed on the top of the heat exchange support (301). The sealing dam (6) forms a vertically extending enclosure structure around the upper port of the side mold (102). The internal space of the sealing dam (6) covers the area above the molding cavity. The atmosphere control component (2) includes: A sealing top cover (201) covers the sealing dike (6), and the projected area of ​​the sealing top cover (201) is larger than the opening size of the sealing dike (6); A gas distribution chamber (202) is fixed to the side surface of the sealing top cover (201) facing the sealing dam (6). The bottom of the gas distribution chamber (202) is provided with a plurality of gas diffusion holes (203). The end of the upper mold (103) is fixed to the sealing top cover (201) and passes through the gas distribution chamber (202). A gas pipeline (204) passes through the sealing top cover (201) and is connected to the gas distribution chamber (202). A solenoid valve (205) is provided on the gas pipeline (204). The gas pipeline (204) includes a vacuum extraction pipeline and an inert gas delivery pipeline.

6. The foaming and molding device for a nickel-chromium composite AB-type hydrogen storage alloy porous material according to claim 5, characterized in that, It also includes a powder fabric assembly, the powder fabric assembly comprising: The feeding hopper (7) is equipped with an openable and closable feeding valve (8) at the bottom and a sealing cover plate at the top for containing premixed powder materials; The translation drive module drives the feeding hopper (7) and the sealing top cover (201) to move horizontally above the molding die (1).

7. The foaming and molding device for a nickel-chromium composite AB-type hydrogen storage alloy porous material according to claim 6, characterized in that, It also includes a negative pressure leveling component (9), which comprises: An electric slide table (901) is arranged along the length of the feeding hopper (7); A leveling head (902) is fixed to the output end of the electric slide (901) and is arranged perpendicular to the electric slide (901). The cross-sectional dimensions of the leveling head (902) are adapted to the opening dimensions of the forming cavity. Two scrapers (903) are arranged along the outer periphery of the leveling head (902) and are respectively disposed on both sides of the leveling head (902). A negative pressure generator, which is connected to the leveling head (902) via a pipeline, is used to generate a negative pressure adsorption force at the leveling head (902) and remove excess powder after the leveling head (902) sweeps over the molding cavity.

8. The foaming and molding device for a nickel-chromium composite AB-type hydrogen storage alloy porous material according to claim 7, characterized in that, The negative pressure generator includes: A negative pressure pipe (10) penetrates the side wall of the feeding hopper (7), and one end of the negative pressure pipe (10) located inside the feeding hopper (7) is connected to a filter cartridge (11). A connecting pipe (12) extends through the bottom of the feeding hopper (7). One end of the connecting pipe (12) is located at the end of the negative pressure pipe (10), and the other end is connected to two adsorption seats (13) through a connector. The adsorption seats (13) are respectively embedded on both sides of the flat head (902).

9. The foaming and molding device for a nickel-chromium composite AB-type hydrogen storage alloy porous material according to claim 5, characterized in that, It also includes a vertical pressure actuator (14), which is disposed above the molding die (1). The output end of the vertical pressure actuator (14) acts on the sealing top cover (201) to drive the sealing top cover (201) to press down to close the sealing dam (6) and drive the upper die (103) to apply axial pressure to the powder material.

10. A method for foaming and molding a nickel-chromium composite AB-type hydrogen storage alloy porous material based on the device described in any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1. Material feeding and leveling: The powder material is filled into the molding cavity, and the powder surface is leveled. S2, sealing and vacuuming: sealing the space above the molding cavity and evacuating the molding cavity and its surrounding environment to a vacuum state through the atmosphere control component (2); S3, hot pressing densification: the molding cavity is heated to the recrystallization temperature by the hot pressing temperature control component (3), and mechanical pressure is applied at the same time to densify the powder material to form a precursor; S4. Atmosphere replacement and in-situ demolding: Inert gas is introduced into the sealed space where the molding cavity is located, and then the lateral constraints on the precursor are released, so that the precursor is exposed to the inert gas environment. S5. Foaming and cooling: The temperature is raised to the temperature of the solid-liquid two-phase region of the alloy by the hot pressing temperature control component (3) to make the precursor foam. After the foaming is completed, the cooling medium is introduced for rapid cooling.

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