The present invention relates to a porous material, the pores of the porous material are uniformly distributed. The uniform distribution of the pores means that the pores are evenly distributed at any unit-level volume of the porous material. The elastic modulus of the porous material is reduced by 10-99% compared to that of the raw material used to make the porous material. This kind of porous material ensures the uniformity of its various properties. It is a porous material with excellent performance and quality. Its uniformity also ensures that its elastic modulus can be effectively reduced to meet multiple purposes.

The present invention relates to processes for producing metal foam bodies, in which metal-containing powders that may comprise aluminium and chromium or molybdenum are applied to metal foam bodies that may comprise nickel, cobalt, copper and iron and then treated thermally, wherein the highest temperature in the thermal treatment of the metal foam bodies is in the range from 680 to 715? C., and wherein the total duration of the thermal treatment within the temperature range from 680 to 715? C. is between 5 and 240 seconds. Following this method of thermal treatment can achieve alloy formation at the contact surface between metal foam body and metal-containing powder, but simultaneously leave unalloyed regions within the metal foam. The present invention further comprises processes comprising the treatment of the alloyed metal foam bodies with basic solution. The present invention further comprises the metal foam bodies obtainable by these processes, which find use, for example, as support and structure components and in catalyst technology.

A hierarchical porous material consists of multistage porous materials, comprising a material body, the body is formed bar a pore cavity graded according to the pore size of the material and a cavity wall surrounding to form the pore cavity. The pore cavities are uniformly distributed. The characteristics are as follows. A lower-level pore cavities are disposed on the cavity wall of an upper-level pore cavity formed by surrounding a three-dimensional space. Each level of pore cavities are mutually connected and the pore cavities within same level are also connected with each other. The uniform distribution of the pore cavities means that similar amount of pore cavities are distributed under any unit volume of the hierarchical porous material. The hierarchical structure of the cavity of the material enables it to meet a wide range of functional requirements.

A three-dimensional network aluminum porous body which enables to produce an electrode continuously, an electrode using the aluminum porous body, and a method for producing the electrode is disclosed. A long sheet-shaped three-dimensional network aluminum porous body is provided to be used as a base material in a method for producing an electrode including at least winding off, a thickness adjustment step, a lead welding step, an active material filling step, a drying step, a compressing step, a cutting step and winding-up, wherein the three-dimensional network aluminum porous body has a tensile strength of 0.2 MPa or more and 5 MPa or less.

A method of fabricating a structure having an open cell foam element includes providing an open cell foam element of metallic, diamond, ceramic and/or refractory material form, and/or having one or more metallic, diamond, ceramic and/or refractory material coatings, the foam element defining a plurality of interconnected cells. The method further includes locating a material within the cells, and treating the material, in situ, by sintering and/or infiltration, to form a continuous mesh or lattice structure that extends within and through the cells of the open cell foam element. Structures fabricated using the method are also described.

A method of fabricating a structure having an open cell foam element includes providing an open cell foam element of metallic, diamond, ceramic and/or refractory material form, and/or having one or more metallic, diamond, ceramic and/or refractory material coatings, the foam element defining a plurality of interconnected cells. The method further includes locating a material within the cells, and treating the material, in situ, by sintering and/or infiltration, to form a continuous mesh or lattice structure that extends within and through the cells of the open cell foam element. Structures fabricated using the method are also described.

A process for producing a metallic foam body, having a substrate made of at least one metal or metal alloy A and a layer of a metal or metal alloy B. The metal or metal alloy A and the metal or metal alloy B are selected from a group consisting of Ni, Cr, Co, Cu, Ag, and any alloy thereof and are different. The process includes providing a porous organic polymer foam. The process also includes depositing at least one first metal or metal alloy A on the porous organic polymer foam. The process further includes burning off the porous organic polymer foam to obtain a metallic foam body substrate. The process yet further includes depositing by electroplating a metallic layer of a metal or metal alloy B at least on a part of the surface of the metallic foam body substrate.

The invention relates to a catalytically active porous element and to a method of manufacturing same. The element is formed with at least 40% by mass cobalt and at least one further chemical element and/or at least one chemical compound which form a matrix into which particles of pure cobalt, of a cobalt alloy or of an intermetallic phase formed with cobalt are embedded. In this respect, the at least one chemical element and/or the at least one chemical compound have a lower sintering temperature and/or melting temperature than cobalt, the respective cobalt alloy or the intermetallic phase. Solely for this purpose or in addition thereto, cobalt can be partially soluble therein and/or can form a eutectic and/or a peritectic together with cobalt.

The invention relates to a metallic foam body, comprising (a) a metallic foam body substrate made of at least one metal or metal alloy A; and (b) a layer of a metal or metal alloy B present on at least a part of the surface of the metallic foam body substrate (a), wherein A and B differ in their chemical composition and/or in the grain size of the metal or metal alloy, and wherein the metal or metal alloy A and B is selected from a group consisting of Ni, Cr, Co, Cu, Ag, and any alloy thereof; obtainable by a process comprising the steps (i) provision of a porous organic polymer foam; (ii) deposition of at least one metal or metal alloy A on the porous organic polymer foam; (iii) burning off of the porous organic polymer foam to obtain the metallic foam body substrate (a); and (iv) deposition by electroplating of the metallic layer (b) of a metal or metal alloy B at least on a part of the surface of the metallic foam body (a). The invention moreover relates to a process for the production of the metallic foam body and a use of the metallic foam body.

Provided are a porous metal body that is excellent in terms of corrosion resistance and that is suitable for a collector for batteries such as lithium-ion batteries, capacitors, or fuel cells; and methods for producing the porous metal body. A production method includes a step of coating a porous nickel body with an alloy containing at least nickel and tungsten or a metal containing at least tin; and a subsequent step of a heat treatment. Another production method includes a step of forming a nickel-plated layer on a porous base and then continuously forming an alloy-plated layer containing at least nickel and tungsten or tin, a step of removing the porous base, and a step of reducing metal. Such a method can provide a porous metal body in which tungsten or tin is diffused in a porous nickel body or a nickel-plated layer.