A self-cleaning porous cermet material, filter and system utilizing the same may be used in filtering particulate and gaseous pollutants from internal combustion engines having intermetallic and ceramic phases. The porous cermet filter may be made from a transition metal aluminide phase and an alumina phase. Filler materials may be added to increase the porosity or tailor the catalytic properties of the cermet material. Additionally, the cermet material may be reinforced with fibers or screens. The porous filter may also be electrically conductive so that a current may be passed therethrough to heat the filter during use. Further, a heating element may be incorporated into the porous cermet filter during manufacture. This heating element can be coated with a ceramic material to electrically insulate the heating element. An external heating element may also be provided to heat the cermet filter during use.
This Application is a Divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/213,120 entitled CERMET MATERIALS, SELF-CLEANING CERMET FILTERS, APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS EMPLOYING SAME, filed on: Nov. 4, 2002. Applicant Notes U.S. application Ser. No. 10/213,112 entitled METHOD OF FABRICATING CERMET MATERIALS AND METHOD OF UTILIZING SAME, filed on Aug. 2, 2002 claims priority to the above referenced U.S. application Ser. No. 10/213,120.
