POROUS METAL MATERIALS WITH ELLIPTIC TYPE PORES AND THEIR MANUFACTURING PROCESS

摘要

A porous metal with elliptic/quasi-elliptic pores, in which the aspect ratio, i.e., the ratio of longitudinal axial to transverse axial, is 1.5-10. The porous metal has excellent directional characteristics, significantly higher tensile strength and electric conductivity in longitudinal direction than that of the porous metal with equi-axial pores and with the same aerial metal density. A process for manufacturing the porous metal comprises the following steps: heating a polymeric foam sheet to the temperature at which the sheet becomes plastic; stretching the foam sheet; cooling the foam sheet to a temperature below the plastic point thereof; making the stretched sheet electric conductive; and electroplating the foam sheet with a desired metal.