Structure and oil retaining capacity of gasar copper fabricated by radial solidification with a combined crystallizer

Porous copper with elongated pores was fabricated by a radial solidification method. The process was carried out in a combined crystallizer under high pressure of a mixture of hydrogen and argon. Pore size, pore length, pore density and porosity of the porous copper were characterized. Furthermore, the oil retaining capacity including oil content and oil efficiency was also evaluated. It is found that porous copper solidified with water-circulated chiller through a thick graphite jacket possesses a gradient structure with increasing pore size, and thus pore density decreases. Also pore length and pore aspect ratio decrease from lateral inwardly, while its porosity is almost uniform. The results show that the porous copper with radial pores has a good oil retaining capacity. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.