Processing and characterization of syntactic carbon foams containing hollow carbon microspheres

The effects of heat-treatment on the properties of carbon foams were studied. The carbon foam was first prepared by adding hollow carbon microspheres to phenolic resin, followed by post-curing, pre-carbonization and carbonization. The mechanisms of failure behaviour and the increase of electrical and thermal conductivities showed that the properties of the foams were influenced by the heat-treatment temperature. Results showed that the introduction of more interval voids during carbonization resulting in a reduction of the mechanical properties. Carbon foams with electrical conductivity of 1.20 S/cm and thermal conductivity of 12.85 W/mK were obtained. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.