Abstract: Sintered stainless steel wire mesh porous plates have been prepared by winding，rolling and subsequently vacuum sintering． This paper investigates the pore size and size distribution，and the charpy impact properties of the stainless steel porous plates． Further studies of the effects on the impact properties by porosities，wire diameters and sintering parameters are performed． The results indicate that for the stainless steel porous plates prepared by the wire mesh，the pore structures are inerratic rectangles and the pore size distributes uniformly; as for the stainless steel porous plates prepared by wire mesh and powder，the pore structures are irregular; porosity of the stainless steel porous plates produces a major effect on their impact property，the impact toughness decreases from 26. 32 J/cm2 to 8. 02 J/cm2 along with the porosity increasing from 10. 64% to 29. 18% ; the impact toughness increases with the sintering temperature being raised and the wire diameter becoming thick． On the basis of macro and micro fracture morphology，the fracture of the specimens under impact load can be inducted as follows: densification，crack initiation，crack propagation，metallurgical joints broken and finally fracture． According to the fracture styles，the wires endure the tensile stress and shear stress before they rupture． 

Key words: stainless steel wire mesh, metal powder, metal porous materials, porosities, impact property, impact toughness