Patent ID: 6231792
Filing Date: 2001-05-15
Classification: B01J,B22F,C04B

Abstract:
A process for producing a porous product comprising a network of fibers, comprising:producing a preform comprising an unsintered network of fibers and a gasifiable structure forming agent;in a first step, gasifying, in the presence of oxygen and steam, at least 50% of the structure forming agent by heating and maintaining the preform at a gasification temperature for a time sufficient to gasify at least 50% of the structure forming agent, said gasification temperature being a temperature below the temperature at which the fibers are sintered; andin a second step, sintering fibers of the preform by maintaining the preform resulting from said first step at a sintering temperature for a period of time sufficient to sinter said fibers at at least a portion of junction points of the fibers, said sintering temperature being higher than said gasification temperature.