These types of porous materials are generally manufactured by shaping and sintering spherical or irregular metal or alloy powders. Due to variations in raw materials and processing techniques, the resulting porous bodies exhibit a variety of different porosities, pore sizes, and distributions. Their characteristics include good permeability, adjustable pore sizes, large specific surface area, and thermal shock resistance.

Sintered porous metal powders are an early-developed type, with diameters generally less than 0.3mm and porosities not exceeding 30%. However, products with porosities greater than 30% can be produced through specific processes. In metallurgy, chemical engineering, and other departments, to enhance certain processes, high temperatures and pressures are often required, necessitating filtration and separation materials capable of withstanding high pressure. In catalytic reactions, catalyst materials with high specific surface areas are needed to provide the largest possible reaction contact area. To ensure stable operation of aviation and hydraulic systems, strict fine filtration of various oils and working gases is necessary. High-temperature sections of aviation and rocketry require uniformly porous materials with heat-resistant properties for dissipative cooling. Generally, organic, ceramic, or glass porous bodies are challenging to meet the requirements of strength, plasticity, and high-temperature performance simultaneously. Sintered metal powders in powder metallurgy address the deficiencies of these various porous materials, leading to their rapid development.