A porous panel with a surface area of at least 0.5 m.sup.2 has a first layer of metal fibers of an average equivalent diameter between 8 and 65 m. The cross-section of the metal fibers has two neighboring straight sides with an included angle of less than 90 and one or more irregularly shaped curved sides. The metal fibers are bonded to each other by metal bonds; where the metal of the metal fibers of the first layer is the bonding agent forming the metal bonds. The filter has a second layer of metal fibers. The average equivalent diameter of the metal fibers of the second layer is smaller than the average equivalent diameter of the metal fibers of the first layer. The first layer and the second layer are bonded to each other by metal bonds.

The filter for gel shearing and particle filtration of molten polymer has a first layer of metal fibers of an average equivalent diameter between 8 and 65 m. The cross-section of the metal fibers has two neighboring straight sides with an included angle of less than 90 and one or more irregularly shaped curved sides. The metal fibers have an average length of at least 6 mm. The metal fibers are bonded to each other by metal bonds; where the metal of the metal fibers of the first layer is the bonding agent forming the metal bonds. The filter has a second layer of metal fibers. The average equivalent diameter of the metal fibers of the second layer is smaller than the average equivalent diameter of the metal fibers of the first layer.