Abstract: A mixed material having a high expansion rate for producing a porous metallic sintered body including: a conventional mixed material for producing a porous metallic sintered body which is formed of a mixture including a composition of 0.05 to 10% by mass of a non-water-soluble hydrocarbon-based organic solvent having 5 to 8 carbon atoms, 0.5 to 20% by mass of a water-soluble resin binder, and 5 to 80% by mass of a metal powder having an average particle size within a range of 0.5 to 500 ?m, and water as the balance; and a gas, wherein the mixed material contains the gas so that the proportion of the gas is within a range of 2 to 50% by volume while the remainder is the conventional mixed material for producing a porous metallic sintered body.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a porous body that forms an expandable slurry containing at least inorganic powder, a foaming agent, and a binder into a sheet, causes the expandable slurry sheet to be foamed and baked, and thereby produces the porous body, the apparatus includes: a mixer preparing the expandable slurry by containing inorganic powder, a foaming agent, and a binder; a die-coater that has a discharge opening which discharges the expandable slurry provided from the mixer to an external thereof so as to shape the expandable slurry into a sheet; and a carrier sheet arranged so as to face the discharge opening of the die-coater with a gap interposed therebetween, and feeding the expandable slurry discharged from the discharge opening, wherein a flow path of the expandable slurry from inside the mixer to the discharge opening of the die-coater is hermetically sealed from an outside.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a porous body that forms an expandable slurry containing at least inorganic powder, a foaming agent, and a binder into a sheet, causes the expandable slurry sheet to be foamed and baked, and thereby produces the porous body, the apparatus includes: a mixer preparing the expandable slurry by containing inorganic powder, a foaming agent, and a binder; a die-coater that has a discharge opening which discharges the expandable slurry provided from the mixer to an external thereof so as to shape the expandable slurry into a sheet; and a carrier sheet arranged so as to face the discharge opening of the die-coater with a gap interposed therebetween, and feeding the expandable slurry discharged from the discharge opening, wherein a flow path of the expandable slurry from inside the mixer to the discharge opening of the die-coater is hermetically sealed from an outside.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a porous body that forms an expandable slurry containing at least inorganic powder, a foaming agent, and a binder into a sheet, causes the expandable slurry sheet to be foamed and baked, and thereby produces the porous body, the apparatus includes: a mixer preparing the expandable slurry by containing inorganic powder, a foaming agent, and a binder; a die-coater that has a discharge opening which discharges the expandable slurry provided from the mixer to an external thereof so as to shape the expandable slurry into a sheet; and a carrier sheet arranged so as to face the discharge opening of the die-coater with a gap interposed therebetween, and feeding the expandable slurry discharged from the discharge opening, wherein a flow path of the expandable slurry from inside the mixer to the discharge opening of the die-coater is hermetically sealed from an outside.

Abstract: A composite porous body, a gas diffusion layer member of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, a cell member for the polymer electrolyte fuel cell, and manufacturing methods thereof are provided. The composite porous body is a metallic composite porous body in which a sheet-like metal portion composed of a composite porous body having a three-dimensional mesh structure and a resin portion extending in an in-plane direction of the metal portion are integrally formed with each other. The gas diffusion layer member of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell is composed of a composite porous body in which a sheet-like metal portion composed of a composite porous body having a three-dimensional mesh structure and a resin portion extending in an in-plane direction of the metal portion are integrally formed with each other. Also, the gas diffusion layer member of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell has a separator plate, and the conductive porous body placed on at least one surface of the separator plate.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a porous body that forms an expandable slurry containing at least inorganic powder, a foaming agent, and a binder into a sheet, causes the expandable slurry sheet to be foamed and baked, and thereby produces the porous body, the apparatus includes: a mixer preparing the expandable slurry by containing inorganic powder, a foaming agent, and a binder; a die-coater that has a discharge opening which discharges the expandable slurry provided from the mixer to an external thereof so as to shape the expandable slurry into a sheet; and a carrier sheet arranged so as to face the discharge opening of the die-coater with a gap interposed therebetween, and feeding the expandable slurry discharged from the discharge opening, wherein a flow path of the expandable slurry from inside the mixer to the discharge opening of the die-coater is hermetically sealed from an outside.

Abstract: A spongy sintered article of titanium or titanium alloy having a three-dimensional network structure in which continuous pores opening to a surface and continuing with internal pores are formed, and having a porosity of 50 to 98%, the spongy sintered article having a composition consisting of 0.1 to 0.6% by mass of carbon and a remainder containing titanium and inevitable impurities, the inevitable impurities having an oxygen content limited to not more than 0.6% by mass, and the spongy sintered article exhibiting an excellent compression strength.

Abstract: A mixed material having a high expansion rate for producing a porous metallic sintered body including: a conventional mixed material for producing a porous metallic sintered body which is formed of a mixture including a composition of 0.05 to 10% by mass of a non-water-soluble hydrocarbon-based organic solvent having 5 to 8 carbon atoms, 0.5 to 20% by mass of a water-soluble resin binder, and 5 to 80% by mass of a metal powder having an average particle size within a range of 0.5 to 500 ?m, and water as the balance; and a gas, wherein the mixed material contains the gas so that the proportion of the gas is within a range of 2 to 50% by volume while the remainder is the conventional mixed material for producing a porous metallic sintered body.

Abstract: A spongy sintered article of titanium or titanium alloy having a three-dimensional network structure in which continuous pores opening to a surface and continuing with internal pores are formed, and having a porosity of 50 to 98%, the spongy sintered article having a composition consisting of 0.1 to 0.6% by mass of carbon and a remainder containing titanium and inevitable impurities, the inevitable impurities having an oxygen content limited to not more than 0.6% by mass, and the spongy sintered article exhibiting an excellent compression strength.

Abstract: A composite porous body, a gas diffusion layer member of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, a cell member for the polymer electrolyte fuel cell, and manufacturing methods thereof are provided. The composite porous body is a metallic composite porous body in which a sheet-like metal portion composed of a composite porous body having a three-dimensional mesh structure and a resin portion extending in an in-plane direction of the metal portion are integrally formed with each other. The gas diffusion layer member of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell is composed of a composite porous body in which a sheet-like metal portion composed of a composite porous body having a three-dimensional mesh structure and a resin portion extending in an in-plane direction of the metal portion are integrally formed with each other. Also, the gas diffusion layer member of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell has a separator plate, and the conductive porous body placed on at least one surface of the separator plate.