A study of the properties of carbon foam reinforced by clay

A novel carbon foam with high strength and very low thermal conductivity was prepared by thermal treating of coal tar based mesophase pitch mixed with montmorillonite clay. SEM observation showed that less micro-cracking appeared on the cell wall of foam by adding of clay-montmorillonite. Foam mechanical properties were improved and its thermal conductivity was markedly decreased. The compressive strengths were increased by 64%, 96% and 100% when the additive amounts of clay were 2%, 5% and 10% (wt%), respectively. Due to the high thermal insulation and lamellar structure of clay, the thermal conductivity of carbon foam decreases from 2 W/m K to 0.25 W/m K. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.