Replication processing of highly porous materials

There exist several methods for the production of highly porous materials; among these, replication processing is well-adapted for open-pore microcellular structures. The process begins by making a porous preform, open pores of which are filled with the foam material. Thereafter the preform is removed, generally by shaking or by dissolution, leaving an interconnected porous network within the foam material. We give here a general description of the process and its variants. We then give a brief overview of its fundamentals, placing particular focus on pathways it offers for microstructural tailoring and control.