Innovative processing of lotus-type porous magnesium through thermal decomposition of wood

The aim of this study was to fabricate lotus-type porous magnesium with aligned cylindrical pores through thermal decomposition of wood by unidirectional solidification in the atmospheric pressure. Pores with cylindrical shape, whose growth direction was parallel to the solidification direction, were observed in the samples. The dependence of the pore structure (porosity and pore size) as well as mechanical properties on the wood amount was investigated. It was found that by increasing the wood content, porosity increased while average pore size was not affected. The compressive yield strengths of fabricated porous samples were slightly lower in comparison to the theoretical values mainly due to the presence of short pores with a small aspect ratio as well as existence of wood decomposition products along grain boundaries.

► Lotus-type porous magnesium was fabricated via thermal decomposition of pine wood.
► The maximum porosity of about 44% was obtained.
► The compressive yield strengths of fabricated porous samples were slightly lower than the expected theoretical values.
► The proposed method is simple, low cost, and safe which can be extended to the synthesis of other metallic foams.