Applications of metal foam as catalyst carrier

Catalytic processes are used in a wide range of applications, e.g. in automotive, chemical industry, combustion processes and power generation. Open cell metallic foams with their specific structural properties are attractive candidates for catalyst supports. Their high porosity and irregular structure ensure an intensive gas reaction with the catalytic surface. The foam can be produced in a wide range of pure metals like nickel, iron, silver, copper by an electroplating process. For high temperature operation conditions the metallic foam substrates can be alloyed by a patented powder metallurgical process in industrial scale e.g. to NiCrAl and NiFeCrAl foams which have a high strength and oxidation resistance over the life time. In this paper results from the past research will show the potential of metallic foams for applications in heterogeneous catalyses and biogas desulfurization.