Open-celled porous NiAl intermetallics prepared by replication of carbamide space-holders

Abstract Open-celled porous NiAl intermetallics with adjustable pore characteristics and mechanical properties were successfully prepared by using spherical carbamide as space-holders via combustion synthesis. Examinations of macroscopic and microscopic morphologies as well as the quasi-static compressive test for the resultant materials were carried out. Depending on the volume fraction and particle size of the carbamide, the porosity and pore size of the porous NiAl intermetallics can be controlled freely in a range of 57.57%-84.58% and 0.4-2.0 mm, respectively. Furthermore, quasi-static compressive tests indicate that the mechanical behavior of the present porous materials is in good agreement with the Gibson-Ashby model.