THIN-WALLED MONOLITHIC METAL OXIDE STRUCTURES MADE FROM METALS, AND METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING SUCH STRUCTURES

A monolithic metal oxide structure is produced by heating a structure containing Fe, Ni, Ti or Cu in an oxidising atmosphere below the melting point of the metal while maintaining the close proximity of the metal surfaces. The metal is transformed to the metal oxide, giving a monolithic structure which retains the same physical shape as the metal-containing structure. Also claimed are: (i) a thin walled monolithic flow divider consisting of the above structure with a wall thickness below 1 mm, preferably 0.07-0.3 mm; (2) an open celled monolithic metal oxide structure comprising adjacent bonded corrugated layers, produced by the above method; and (3) the formation of a metal oxide filter by heating Fe, Ni, Cu or Ti filaments in an oxidising atmosphere.