PURPOSE: To manufacture inexpensively porous Al having superior mechanical properties by sticking powder of an Al-Si alloy to the surface of an Al material cut into wires, putting the material in a metallic mold for molding, and heating it to a proper temp.

CONSTITUTION: Powder of an Al-Si alloy is stuck to the surface of an Al or Al alloy material formed by cutting a wire rod into wires or a plate into fibers or chips by coating and drying a slurry of the powder mixed optionally with a flux in an aqueous or volatile soln. The material is put in a metallic mold for molding, and it is heated to the liquidus line temp. of the Al-Si alloy ±10°C to melt-bond the Al-Si alloy at the contact points of the material. Thus, porous Al having superior mechanicsl properties, especially high ductility and contg. no foreign matter is inexpensively obtd. with high productivity in a short time.