（1. Ningbo Branch of Ordance Science Institute of China, Ningbo 315100, China）（2. Ningbo Key Laboratory of Metal Precision Plastic Forming, Ningbo 315100, China）
As an important lightweight multifunctional material, aluminum foam has been applied in various industrial fields because of its high specific strength, energy absorption, vibration reduction and electromagnetic shielding. The industrial application of aluminum foam in foreign countries has been relatively mature, while the research on aluminum foam in China started relatively late, and there is still a certain gap compared with foreign advanced technologies. This paper summarizes the comprehensive characteristics and main preparation technologies of aluminum foam materials, as well as the research progress in key technologies such as the composition design and optimization, the preparation technology of foam prefabrication, the mechanism of foaming stability and so on. Then, the effective measures to improve foaming effect and the quality of products are obtained. Furthermore, the application of aluminum foam materials in ordnance equipment and aerospace is briefly analyzed. Finally, the development trends of foam aluminum material in China are put forward, which can provide an important reference for the rapid development of high quality aluminum foam materials in China.