Catalytic support
Metal foams. Properties

The foams concerned by the catalytic support application are also open-structure metal foams.

In most cases, metal foams serve as carriers and thermal conductors and undergo specific surface coatings [B₅] [B₇] which are intended to :

• create a catalytic support and increase the specific surface area,

• adapt the surface material to the chemical reactions required.

Typically, an initial catalytic support layer is deposited (Al₂O₃, ZrO₂, etc.) before the catalyst layer is applied, which makes use of the porosities in the catalytic support. In this type of application, tests and research focus less on the metal foam itself and more on the catalytic supports, the catalyst and the strength of the adhesion of the layers to their supports.

Nevertheless, as with heat exchangers, the morphology...