Technology and properties of aluminum-based powder porous materials produced by sintering of a loose powder charge in air in the presence of a flux and additives

A method of obtaining aluminum-based porous material is suggested which consists in sintering of a loose powder charge in air using silumin and KAlF₄ as a flux. The effect of the dispersity of the initial powders and of the composition of the initial mixture on the porosity and properties of the sintered powder material has been investigated. It is shown that, in the presence of a small amount of a flux and a low-melting component (silumin), no substantial oxidation of aluminum occurs and that a material with a porosity from 30 to 35% and satisfactory physical properties can be obtained.