Effect of raw materials on the pore morphologies of carbon foams prepared through templating method

The present paper reports about the effects of raw materials, processed through templating method, on the pore microstructures and pore size distribution of carbon foams (CFs). Biomaterials along with polyurethane and phenolic resin were employed to prepare CFs. To further investigate the adjustability of the pore microstructures and pore size distribution, several kinds of chemical additives/fillers, including activated charcoal, NaCl, and silicon, were used. Surface morphological studies were carried out using scanning electron microscope (SEM), and pore size distribution was analysed by high-pressure Hg porosimetry. The results showed that the structures of the precursor played a dominant role in determining the final pore microstructures. Chemical additives/fillers affect the average pore sizes, pore size distributions, and the pore walls. High amount of macropores are found in all the samples with the radius ranging from 2 to 4 μm. It is practical to adjust the pores using different raw materials and chemical additives/fillers.