Preparation and characterization of carbon foam derived from coal pitch

Carbon foams with high mechanical strength and low thermal conductivity were produced using precursors obtained after thermo-oxidation treatment of purified coal-tar by self-foaming. The structure and properties of obtained foams were studied. The results indicate that foaming precursor pre-treated by varying temperature and time, and the varying foaming conditions significantly affect the foaming process, foam structure and foam mechanical properties. Foam formation can happened at relatively low pressure and fast heating rate during the foaming process because of the resultant pitches. The properties of resultant foams were studied. The influence of foaming temperature, foaming time, foaming pressure on the foaming process were discussed. And at the same time the pre-treating temperature and time of coal pitch on the foaming process were also discussed in this paper.