Magnetic field alignment of emulsions to produce porous articles

A method, comprising:

• exposing a precursor composition of a porous article to a magnetic field which causes longitudinal axes of elongated regions of emulsion droplets within a fluid of the precursor to become substantially aligned with each other;
• consolidating the composition;
• and
• at least partially removing the fluid and/or the elongated regions of the emulsion droplets from the composition, thereby forming the porous article,
• wherein the emulsion droplets and/or the fluid comprise a mixture comprising water and a water-soluble liquid alcohol.

A method, comprising:

• exposing a matrix comprising a fluid and emulsion droplets within the fluid to a magnetic field such that the magnetic field causes at least a portion of the emulsion droplets to chain;
• and
• at least partially removing the fluid and/or the emulsion droplets from the matrix to form anisotropic pores within the matrix,
• wherein at least one of the fluid and the emulsion droplets contain polyvinyl alcohol.