Sintered fiber filter

A method of making a sintered fiber filter element, the method comprising:

• (a) providing a mold having a cylindrical cavity with an end closure at one end of the cylindrical cavity, and a fill cap at another end of the cylindrical cavity, wherein the fill cap is removable to provide an open end, and a core rod movably sealed in said end closure and extending coaxially within said cavity;
• (b) orienting said mold vertically with said open end disposed upwardly;
• (c) introducing fiber and liquid into said cavity through said open end substantially radially evenly about said core rod;
• (d) creating a pressure differential in the mold to expel liquid from the mold;
• (e) applying pressure to said mold and thereby to said fiber in said cavity, whereby said fiber coheres to form a substantially tube-shaped structure;
• (f) removing said substantially tube-shaped structure from said mold;
• (g) sintering said substantially tube-shaped structure to obtain a porous tube-shaped sintered filter element having a first end and a second end;
• and
• (h) densifying the ends of said porous tube-shaped sintered filter element.