Carbon Foam from Two Step Polymerization of Coal Tar Pitch: Synthesis and Characterization

In this work, carbon foam, by the aim of two step heat treatment under pressure produced from raw coal tar pitch. First, FTIR spectroscopy served to reveal the formation of aromatic functions as a result of condensation polymerization. In second approach, heat treatment under pressure conducted to synthesis the porous carbon from mesophase pitch. In both levels of raw foam synthesis, effect of heat induced polymerization from cracking reactions and aromatization of cyclic hydrocarbons studied. Finally, the as obtained green foams got carbonized in the carbonization furnaces in order to get strengthen from the thermal stabilization aspect. Using XRD analysis, it was observed that by increasing heat treatment temperature, crystal unit height and orientation of graphene layers in the carbon foam pore walls will be boosted. Also, SEM micrographs and porosity measurements served to prove the optimal existence of pores in the received foam.