Development of open cellular metal foam technology based on investment casting applying the polyurethane pattern is discussed.

Technological process comprises preparing of the ceramic mold applying PUR foam as the pattern, firing of the mold, pouring of the

liquid Zn-Al alloy into the mold and washing out of the ceramic material from cellular casting. Critical parameters such as the temperature

of mold and poured metal, design of gating system affected by metalostatic pressure allowed to produce castings with cellular structure

characterized by the open porosity.

Metal cellular foams with the open porosity embedded in phase change material (PCM) enhance heat transfer and reduce time operations

in energy storage systems. Charging and discharging were performed at the laboratory accumulator by heating and cooling with flowing

water characterized by the temperatures of 97-100oC. Temperature measurements were collected from 7 different thermocouples located

in the accumulator. In relation to the tests with pure paraffin, embedding of the metal Zn-Al cellular foam in paraffin significantly

decreases temperature gradients and melting time of paraffin applied as PCM characterized by the low thermal conductivity. Similarly,

reduction of discharging time by this method improves the efficiency of thermal energy storage system applied in solar power plants or for

the systems of energy efficient buildings.