Porous material, method for manufacturing porous material, and honeycomb structure

A method for manufacturing a porous material, comprising:

• a forming step of obtaining a mixture by adding and mixing a raw material for a binding material containing a cordierite forming raw material and an organic binder to powdery aggregates formed of a nonoxide containing silicon, and then forming the mixture to obtain a formed body;
• a firing step of calcinating the obtained formed body in an atmosphere containing oxygen to remove the organic binder in the formed body, and then firing the formed body in a temperature range of 1370 to 1450° C. to obtain a porous fired body in which the powdery aggregates are bound to each other with an oxide ceramic;
• and
• a porous material forming step of subjecting the obtained fired body to a heat treatment in a temperature range of 1000 to 1400° C. in an atmosphere containing oxygen, and thereby forming a phase containing oxygen on a surface of the powdery aggregates including a boundary surface with the oxide ceramic to obtain a porous material.