Foam casting process

A process for the preparation of a foam, the process comprising:

• a) dissolving a polymer material in a solvent to form a polymer solution;
• b) adding the polymer solution to a mold, and optionally degassing the polymer solution in the mold;
• c) adding a solid particulate to the polymer solution in the mold;
• and
• d) washing the resulting polymer mixture in the mold with a washing liquid;
• wherein the solid particulate is insoluble in the polymer solution and soluble in the washing liquid, and
• wherein after washing the polymer mixture with the washing liquid, the remaining polymer material in the mold forms the foam and the shape of the foam is defined by the shape of the mold.