can be used for near-net-shape casting, including in protocols where the final casting has a cavity in the shape of the casting pattern - in that case, the metal is poured into the cavity, which has been arranged to lie in the middle of a quantity of "filler" corresponding to the reaction product, and wicks itself to fill the pores in the filler.

The normal application is to produce alumina-reinforced aluminium; the process also allows the growth of ceramic layers inside metal encasements, providing