Fabrication of ultralight reticulated carbon foams for thermal insulation from raffinate pitch of low-temperature coal tar

Abstract

A raffinate pitch of low-temperature coal tar and abundantly bamboo leaves are usually a waste material. This research proposes a new method for manufacturing an ultralight reticulated carbon foam for thermal insulation using a raffinate pitch and abundantly available bamboo leaves. The foam was successfully fabricated by a simple procedure consisting of co-pyrolysis of a raffinate pitch and abundantly available bamboo leaves. The effect of this procedure on the structure and performance of the carbon foams was investigated. The chemical composition of the raffinate pitch can be tailored by changing the concentration of bamboo leaves. The carbon foam containing 10 wt.% of bamboo leaves possessed the lowest density and thermal conductivity. The ultralight reticulated raffinate-pitched carbon foams also exhibited good oxidation resistance at 1000 ℃ in air. The foams had ultralow density, excellent thermal insulation, oxidation resistance, and compress strength compared with other coal tar pitch-based carbon foams. Therefore, these foams can potentially be used as lightweight thermal insulation materials.