The invention relates to a sintered metal material comprising at least one magnetic part, characterised by directional through-pores having a size of between 1 and 100 μm, said material having a density varying by less than 20% from one sample of 1 cm3 to another taken from a one-piece part made from the material.

The invention relates to a sintered metal material comprising at least one magnetic part, characterised by directional through-pores having a size of between 1 and 100 μm, said material having a density varying by less than 20% from one sample of 1 cm3 to another taken from a one-piece part made from the material.

A metal foam ball, several millimeters in diameter, is manufactured to have an open-pore structure to absorb fluid (e.g., gas and liquid) such as water or lubricant. As an example, a copper foam ball is manufactured via a freeze casting method using prepared oxide powder slurry where a spherical silica gel mold is used to freeze the slurry, which is subsequently dried at low temperature in vacuum and then sintered at high temperature. For improved oxidation, copper alloy foam ball or copper foam ball coated with tin can also be manufactured through the same method. For improved strength, steel, copper-nickel alloy, or titanium foam ball can also be manufactured through the same method.

Anode and cathode electrodes of a rechargeable lithium-ion battery are manufactured using metal foam. This lithium-ion battery with the metal-foam electrodes can have pores coated or filled, or both, with high-capacity active materials for greater energy density, better safety, improved power, and longer cycle life. Aluminum (or nickel) and copper metal-foam electrodes are manufactured using space-holder and freeze-casting methods. An anode can be filled with a graphite or silicon slurry, or a combination. A cathode can be filled with a lithium cobalt oxide (or other higher-capacity active materials) slurry. The relatively thick metal-foam electrodes are attached to the cell, separated by a separator, and wetted by an electrolyte, forming a high-capacity secondary battery. The battery will have higher density, improved power, and good cycle life.

Anode and cathode electrodes of a rechargeable lithium-ion battery are manufactured using metal foam. This lithium-ion battery with the metal-foam electrodes can have pores coated or filled, or both, with high-capacity active materials for greater energy density, better safety, improved power, and longer cycle life. Aluminum (or nickel) and copper metal-foam electrodes are manufactured using space-holder and freeze-casting methods. An anode can be filled with a graphite or silicon slurry, or a combination. A cathode can be filled with a lithium cobalt oxide (or other higher-capacity active materials) slurry. The relatively thick metal-foam electrodes are attached to the cell, separated by a separator, and wetted by an electrolyte, forming a high-capacity secondary battery. The battery will have higher density, improved power, and good cycle life.

In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a method of making a composite. In some embodiments, the method includes applying an external magnetic field to a mixture composed of a plurality of magnetic materials in a container, in which the external magnetic field produces a homogenous and uniform magnetic flux in the container. In some embodiments, the method further includes solidifying the mixture to result in the growth of solvent crystals in the mixture, and subliming a solvent phase of the mixture in the container to thereby form a composite having uniformly aligned magnetic materials. In an additional embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a composite having uniformly aligned magnetic materials. In some embodiments, a majority of the magnetic materials in the composite are aligned in the same direction.

Morphology, microstructure, compressive behavior, and biocorrosive properties of magnesium or magnesium alloy foams allow for their use in biodegradable biomedical, metal-air battery electrode, hydrogen storage, and lightweight transportation applications. Magnesium or Mg alloy foams are usually very difficult to manufacture due to the strong oxidation layer around the metallic particles; however, in this invention, they can be synthesized via a camphene-based freeze-casting process with the addition of graphite powder using precisely controlled heat-treatment parameters. The average porosity ranges from 45 to 85 percent and the median pore diameter is about a few tens to hundreds of microns, which are suitable for bio and energy applications utilizing their enhanced surface area. This invention based on powder-slurry freeze-casting method using camphene as a volatile solvent is also applicable for other metal foams such as iron, copper, or others to produce three-dimensional metal foams with high strut connectivity.

The invention relates to a sintered metal material comprising at least one magnetic part, characterised by directional through-pores having a size of between 1 and 100 μm, said material having a density varying by less than 20% from one sample of 1 cm3 to another taken from a one-piece part made from the material.

The invention relates to a sintered metal material comprising at least one magnetic part, characterised by directional through-pores having a size of between 1 and 100 μm, said material having a density varying by less than 20% from one sample of 1 cm3 to another taken from a one-piece part made from the material.

In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a method of making a composite. In some embodiments, the method includes applying an external magnetic field to a mixture composed of a plurality of magnetic materials in a container, in which the external magnetic field produces a homogenous and uniform magnetic flux in the container. In some embodiments, the method further includes solidifying the mixture to result in the growth of solvent crystals in the mixture, and subliming a solvent phase of the mixture in the container to thereby form a composite having uniformly aligned magnetic materials. In an additional embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a composite having uniformly aligned magnetic materials. In some embodiments, a majority of the magnetic materials in the composite are aligned in the same direction.