POROUS METAL STRUCTURES MADE BY THERMAL SPRAYING FUGITIVE MATERIAL AND METAL

摘要

Porous Metal Structures Made by Thermal Spraying Fugitive Material and Metal Porous metal deposits especially useful in gas turbine engines as compressor seals are made by thermal spraying a metal powder and a meltable polymer powder mixture, wherein the spraying process and a subsequent polymer removal process are chosen to produce less than 30 weight percent oxide. Oxide contents of 4-25% are typical. When 86 weight percent nichrome is sprayed wth 14 weight percent polymethylmethacrylate the polymer is removed by heating in air to about 315.degree.C. The resultant porous structure will have an oxide content of 7% and an apparent density of about 32%. A meltable polymer additionally produces a more desirable pore structure.