Porous metallic materials and method of production thereof

1. A process for producing porous metallic materials comprising the steps of:

a. homogeneously mixing a composition consisting of metallic particles, a carbonate additive and a binder, wherein the metallic particles have a higher melting point than the melting or decomposition point of the carbonate additive and the quantity of carbonate additive in the mixture is in the range of 40 to 90 vol % and compressing the mixture in a mould beyond the yield strength of the metallic particles, so as to bring about a plastic strain of at least 0.0002 and plastic deformation of the metallic particles;

b. heating the mixture to a first temperature sufficient to evaporate the binder;

c. heating and maintaining the temperature of the mixture to a second temperature sufficient to sinter the metallic particles but insufficient to decompose or melt the carbonate additive, sintering thereby occurring before removal of the carbonate additive;

d. allowing the material to cool and dissolving and removing the carbonate additive from the sintered porous metallic material prepared in step (c) in an aqueous solution in a manner that prevents the porous metallic material from collapsing after the carbonate additive is removed, so that the pores of said porous metallic material approximate the shape and size of the carbonate additive particles; and

e. optionally heating and maintaining the temperature of the porous metallic material to a third temperature greater than the second temperature so as to enhance the sintering.

2. A process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first temperature is less than or equal to 500° C.

3. A process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the aqueous solution comprises water.

4. A process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the materials have interconnected pores.

5. A process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the metallic particles comprise metal or metal alloy particles.

6. A process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the metallic particles comprise a metal or an alloy of one or more of the following group: titanium, copper or nickel.

7. A process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the carbonate comprises one or a mixture selected from the following group: potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, magnesium carbonate or calcium carbonate.

8. A process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the metallic particles are in the size range of 5 to 500 microns.

9. A process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the carbonate additive is in a granular or powder form.

10. A process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the metallic particles to carbonate additive is used to determine the characteristics of the pores.

11. A process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the binder is organic.

12. A process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the binder comprises one or a mixture chosen from the following group: methanol, ethanol, kerosene, glycol, glycerine and polyvinyl alcohol.

13. A process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the quantity of the binder in the mixture is in the range of 0.1 to 5 vol %.

14. A process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the mixture is used in a preform, mould or die prior to heating.

15. A process as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the mixture is compacted into a preform, mould or die prior to heating.

16. A process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the mixture is heated under pressure.

17. A process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the mixture is heated in a vacuum.