Abstract: A filter comprising a plurality of metal fibers having a non-round cross section, in particular a rectangular, quadric, partial circular or an elliptical cross section, with the cross section comprising a large axis and a small axis, wherein a ratio of the small axis to the large axis lies in the range of 0.99 to 0.05. The invention further relates to a treatment method for metal fibers comprising an elliptical or rectangular cross section, both having a large axis and a small axis, wherein a ratio of a length of the small axis to a length of the large axis is smaller than 1, preferably smaller than 0.5, wherein the treatment method comprises the step of heating the fibers (10) in an oven to a temperature value in ° C. between 70 and 95% of the melting temperature in ° C., such that the ratio of the length of the small axis (D2) to the length of the large axis (D1) increases, preferably to the range of 0.05 to 0.99, wherein the metal fibers (10) are at least a part of a filter according to the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a network of metal fibers, comprising a plurality of metal fibers fixed to one another; wherein at least some of the plurality of metal fibers have a length of 1.0 mm or more, a width of 100 ?m or less and a thickness of 50 ?m or less. The invention further relates to a method comprising step 1 of producing a plurality of metal fibers (2) by melt spinning; step 2 of providing a loose network of metal fibers (2) produced in step 1; and step 3 of fixating the plurality of metal fibers to one another by one of the following processes c1 to c4.