Porous Metals with Directional Pores

This book reviews the recent development of fabrication methods and various properties of lotus-type porous metals and their applications. The nucleation and growth mechanism of the directional pores in metals are discussed in comparison with a model experiment of carbon dioxide pores in ice. Three casting techniques are introduced to produce not only metals and alloys but also intermetallic compounds, semiconductors, and ceramics: mold casting, continuous zone melting, and continuous casti...