Metallic foam body with controlled grain size on its surface, process for its production and use thereof

A process for the production of a metallic foam body, wherein the metallic foam body comprises:

• (a) a metallic foam body substrate made of at least one metal or metal alloy A;
• and
• (b) a layer of a metal or metal alloy B present on at least a part of a surface of the metallic foam body substrate, wherein the at least one metal or metal alloy A and the metal or metal alloy B differ in their chemical composition and/or in grain size of the metal or metal alloy, and wherein the at least one metal or metal alloy A and the metal or metal alloy B is selected from a group consisting of Ni, Cr, Co, Cu, Ag, and any alloy thereof;
• the process comprising the steps of:
• (i) providing a porous organic polymer foam;
• (ii) depositing at least one first metal or metal alloy A on the porous organic polymer foam;
• (iii) burning off the porous organic polymer foam to obtain a metallic foam body substrate;
• and
• (iv) depositing by electroplating a metallic layer of a metal or metal alloy B at least on a part of the surface of the metallic foam body substrate.