In this work, thermal transport process of open-cell metal foam/paraffin composite (MFPC) with solid-liquid phase change is experimentally investigated. The benchmark data including planar visualized phase and temperature fields of MFPC as well as temperature variations at critical inner positions are obtained by using photography and infrared technique together with thermocouples, respectively. The phase transition process of MFPC and influences of porous foam structure (featured by porosity and pore density) have been analyzed in detail, concerning both heat transfer characteristics and thermal control performance. It is revealed that the foam structure parameters influence evidently the thermal diffusion and convection in MFPC, which further have crucial impacts on the phase change evolution and thermal transport, leading to distinct phase interface shapes and phase change rates, as well as different temperature distributions in the phase change unit and its adjacent heating source. By decreasing foam porosity or pore density, it can result in evident influences, including: (1) enhancing the thermal diffusion in MFPC; (2) strengthening the local thermal non-equilibrium between foam matrix and paraffin; (3) expediting the propelling of phase interface; and (4) improving the phase change synchronism and temperature uniformity of paraffin. Moreover, it is preferred to apply the MFPC with a lower enough porosity and a relatively higher pore density for maintaining a low-temperature heating condition and uniform temperature distribution in heat-generating devices needing suitable thermal management. This work gives both benchmark data and physical characteristics related to phase change of MFPC, which is beneficial to better application of MFPC, ensuring both high performances of thermal transport and thermal control.

在这项工作中，实验研究了具有固液相变的开孔金属泡沫/石蜡复合材料（MFPC）的热传输过程。分别通过使用摄影和红外技术以及热电偶获得基准数据，包括MFPC的平面可视化相场和温度场以及关键内部位置的温度变化。详细分析了MFPC的相变过程和多孔泡沫结构的影响（以孔隙率和孔密度为特征），同时考虑了传热特性和热控制性能。结果表明，泡沫结构参数明显影响了MFPC中的热扩散和对流，这进一步影响了相变的演变和热传递，导致不同的相界面形状和相变速率，以及相变单元及其相邻热源中的不同温度分布。通过降低泡沫的孔隙率或孔隙密度，可以导致明显的影响，包括：（1）增强MFPC中的热扩散；（2）加强泡沫基质与石蜡之间的局部热不平衡；（3）加快相界面的推进；（4）提高石蜡的相变同步性和温度均匀性。此外，优选地，在需要适当的热管理的发热装置中，应用具有较低的孔隙率和相对较高的孔密度的MFPC，以维持低温加热条件和均匀的温度分布。