Mechanical and hydraulic properties of open-cell vitreous carbon foams manufactured by different methods

Abstract

The paper reports on comparative studies of mechanical strength and hydraulic permeability of open-cell vitreous carbon foams manufactured by different methods. Vitreous carbon foam were manufactured either by infiltration of the epoxy precursor resin into a layer of pore-forming removable granules or by replication of a structure of polyurethane foam template with the phenolic precursor resin followed by pyrolysis of the precursor resins in neutral gaseous environment. It was stated that the vitreous carbon foams manufactured by the replication method had higher hydraulic permeability compared to the vitreous carbon foams manufactured by infiltration, but had poorer mechanical strength at similar cell diameter and within similar relative densities range. Recommendations for the use of the studied foams in various areas have been proposed.