A method of preparing a structure is provided. The method includes providing an initial structure; casting a first material in one or more void volumes of the initial structure; removing the initial structure from the first material; obtaining a cast structure comprising the first material; coating a second material on the cast structure; casting a third material using the coated cast structure; removing the first material; and obtaining a final structure. In various embodiments, the initial structure can include a first initial structure and a second initial structure and casting a first material in one or more first void volumes of the first initial structure and in one or more second void volumes of the second initial structure. In various embodiments, the method includes assembling the first cast structure and the second cast structure and obtaining an assembled structure comprising the first cast structure and the second cast structure.

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 metal porous body includes a flat plate shape and having continuous pores, a framework of the metal porous body including an alloy layer containing nickel and at least one of chromium and tin, a cobalt layer being formed on a surface of the alloy layer.

A metal porous body includes a flat plate shape and having continuous pores, a framework of the metal porous body having an alloy layer containing nickel and chromium, and a silver layer being formed on a surface of the alloy layer.

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 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 for producing an aluminum alloy foam wherein an aluminum alloy, in molten form, infiltrates the interstices of a preform of silicon elastomer elements, by means of a conventional molding process, typically a low-pressure process, followed by the elimination of the preform broken down into silica powder during the molding cycle and/or an additional baking cycle.