Abstract: A method for partially coating open cell porous material is provided. The method generally comprises the initial step of providing a block or body of open cell porous material made from a first material having a first melting temperature. A thin sheet of a second material, having a second melting temperature lower than the first melting temperature, is then disposed on one or more of the exterior surfaces of the open cell porous block. The block and the sheet are then placed in an oven or a retort at generally the second melting temperature. By capillarity, the molten second material will spread throughout the open cell porous block and generally concentrates itself in the regions where adjacent particles of the first material have previously partially bonded.

Abstract: An open cell porous material and a method for producing it is provided. The porous material of the present invention is generally composed of particles of at least one inorganic material bonded together by a brazing agent, generally provided as inorganic brazing alloy particles. The porous material is produced by heating a mixture comprising inorganic brazing alloy particles having a first melting temperature, inorganic particles having a second melting temperature higher than the first melting temperature, a binding agent having a decomposition temperature lower than the first melting temperature and preferably a foaming agent. In practice, the mixture is heated to induce foaming thereof via the foaming agent. The solid foamed structure is then heated at the decomposition temperature to substantially eliminate the binder.