The present paper highlights results from the priority program "Cellular Metals" of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG SPP 1075). Further results of this project are published in [4]. Two processes for the production of foams and sponges basing on magnesium are presented and discussed concerning their producibility and their applications. The powder metallurgical route for the production of metallic foams basing on aluminum is well examined since some decades but foamed parts basing on magnesium could not be produced yet. The discussion of the foamability of magnesium alloys leads to a sintering process which enhances the foamability at the beginning of the foaming process and finally leads to foamed magnesium cylinders with 40mm in diameter. Relatively easy in the production but appropriate only for small open cell sponges is the infiltration process using salt grains as place holder. The molten magnesium is forced by vacuum to infiltrate the salt grains which are dissolved in sodium hydroxide solution after machining . A method which applies mechanical vibration for grain fining of the bulk material and improving the infiltration process is adopted.
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