A method for making a porous, chemically bonded ceramic shaped article comprises i) providing a precursor powder mixture comprising polymer particles and a ceramic self-setting cementitious powder； ii) preparing a shaped article from a paste comprising the precursor powder mixture and an aqueous liquid； and iii) immersing the shaped article in an immersing liquid in which the polymer particles are soluble, for a period of time of from about 10 minutes to about two weeks to dissolve the polymer particles in the immersing liquid, thereby creating pores in the shaped article. A porous, chemically bonded ceramic shaped article having interconnected pores, a total porosity of at least about 50%, and a macroporosity of at least about 30% can be formed by such methods.
