To　explore　the　heat　and　mass　transfer　characteristics　during　the　phase　change　in　metal　foams,　a　test　rig　with　solid/liquid　phase　change　heat　transfer　visualization　device　was　designed　and　established.　The　effects　of　pore　structure　parameters　on　solidification　process　were　measured.　Results　show　that　the　involvement　of　open-cells　in　metal　foam　can　significantly　enhance　the　solidification　process.　The　deterioration　of　phase　change　heat　transfer　can　be　compensated　by　the　enhanced　heat　conduction　with　metal　foam.　The　full　solidification　time　can　be　reduced　by　48.86%　(pore　density　of　1　181　m-1　and　porosity　of　0.90)　and　60.97%　(pore　density　of　1　181　m-1　and　porosity　of　0.97),　respectively,　in　comparison　with　the　case　of　pure　water.　Porosity　plays　a　vital　role　in　solidification　process　but　the　influence　of　pore　density　upon　solidification　can　be　neglected.　The　full　solidification　time　can　be　further　reduced　by　20%　when　the　porosity　decreases　from　0.97　to　0.90.　The　visualization　demonstrated　an　inclined　solidification　front,　which　indicated　the　contribution　of　local　natural　convection　in　the　fluid　phase.　Local　thermal　equilibrium　between　metallic　ligaments　and　the　saturating　PCM　(distilled　water)　was　experimentally　observed.　©　2018,　Editorial　Office　of　Journal　of　Xi＇an　Jiaotong　University.　All　right　reserved.