The term metal foam is self-evident as a description; less obvious is the reason for making it. As the name suggests, metal foam is metal material that has been created with a porous, cellular structure, making it sort of a metallic sponge. The point of making such a material is to provide designers with the characteristic benefits of metal, such as strength, rigidity, thermal conductivity, and electromagnetic shielding, with the uncharacteristic benefits of lighter weight and increased surface area.