Metal pipes

A porous metal tube is a tubular porous material produced by sintering metal powders or fibers. Its walls feature a uniform distribution of numerous microscopic pores, allowing gases or liquids to pass through while simultaneously retaining solid particles.

Key Features

· Combines the high strength, high-temperature resistance, and corrosion resistance of metals with the fluid-permeability characteristics of filter paper.
· Features controllable pore sizes (ranging from a few microns to several hundred microns), a porosity of 30%–60%, and excellent air permeability.
· Capable of being welded and machined, making it easy to fabricate into sealed assemblies.

Common Materials
Stainless steel, titanium, nickel-based alloys, bronze, etc. Material selection depends on temperature resistance and corrosion resistance requirements.

Key Applications
1. Precision Filtration: Gas-solid and liquid-solid separation in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and food industries—such as high-temperature gas dust removal and catalyst recovery.
2. Gas Distribution/Sparging: Aeration heads in wastewater treatment and gas distributors in fluidized beds, producing fine and uniform bubbles.
3. Silencing and Noise Reduction: Mufflers for compressed air exhaust and pneumatic components.
4. Flame Arresting and Explosion Protection: Fabrication of flame arresters utilizing the flame-quenching properties of porous structures.
5. Fluidization and Conveying: Fluidized transport of powdered materials.

Fluid Control and Sensor Protection

· Used for throttling and damping, and serving as a flow-stabilizing element to smooth out fluctuating gas flows.
· Employed within the measuring tubes of Coriolis mass flowmeters to rectify the flow profile, thereby enhancing measurement accuracy.
· Serves as a protective sheath for probes; in harsh environments characterized by high dust concentrations or intense agitation, it allows gas to pass through while shielding the internal sensors—simultaneously providing filtration, flame suppression, and explosion protection.
The specific function is determined by the manufacturing process, which primarily falls into three categories:
· Powder Sintering: The most common method, involving the high-temperature sintering of metal powders within a mold; this results in a uniform pore structure and high mechanical strength.
· Metal Fiber Sintering: Involves the compaction and sintering of micron-scale metal fibers; this yields extremely high porosity (exceeding 90%), excellent gas permeability, and high impact resistance.
· Self-Propagating High-Temperature Synthesis (SHS): Utilizes the exothermic energy of chemical reactions to drive the synthesis process; this method is cost-effective and particularly suitable for fabricating specialized porous materials, such as intermetallic compounds.
Simply put, it is a “breathing metal tube” capable of simultaneously transmitting fluids (both gas and liquid) and performing filtration—making it an exceptionally practical solution for applications where both mechanical strength and permeability are essential requirements.