Certain porous materials have special properties and functions that cannot normally be
obtained by conventional dense counterparts. Therefore, porous materials are now used in
many applications such as final products and in various technological processes. Macroporous
materials are used in various forms and compositions in everyday life; e.g. polymeric foams,
packaging, lightweight aluminum structures in buildings, aircraft, and as a porous ceramic for
water [1,2].
A growing number of applications that require advanced ceramics have appeared in recent
decades, especially in environments where high temperatures, extended wear and corrosive
environments are present. Such applications include the filtration of molten metals, high
temperature insulation, support for catalytic reactions [3], filtration of particulates from
exhaust gases of diesel engines and filtration of hot gases in various corrosive industrial
processes, for example [4-6]. The advantages of using porous ceramic for these applications
are generally a high melting point, suitable electronic properties, good corrosion resistance
and wear resistance in combination with the characteristics acquired by the replacement of the
solid material by voids in the component. Such characteristics include low thermal mass, low
thermal conductivity, permeability control, high surface area, low density, high specific
strength and a low dielectric constant [1,7]. These properties can be tailored for each specific
application by controlling the composition and microstructure of the porous ceramic [8,9].