Methods of fabricating cermet materials and methods of utilizing the same such as in filtering particulate and gaseous pollutants from internal combustion engines having intermetallic and ceramic phases. The cermet material may be made from a transition metal aluminide phase and an alumina phase. The mixture may be pressed to form a green compact body and then heated in a nitrogen-containing atmosphere so as to melt aluminum particles and form the cermet. 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 cermet material may also be formed so as to pass an electrical current therethrough to heat the material during use.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This Application is a Divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/213,112 entitled METHOD OF FABRICATING CERMET MATERIALS AND METHOD OF UTILIZING SAME, filed on Aug. 5, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,022,647: Applicant Notes 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 claims priority to the above referenced U.S. application Ser. No. 10/213,112.
