Quantitative Nondestructive Density Determinations of Very Low-Density Carbon Foams

Carbon foams have been manufactured at EG&G Mound Applied Technologies through the use of a salt replica process [1,2] that has been modified by a Mound propriety process [3]. Applications of these foams have been described in an early publication [4]. In the basic process [1,2] of manufacturing the foams, salt is pressed into bars; the bars are then cured, infused with polymer and cured again. The salt is then removed by copious solvent rinsings and finally carbonized into very porous and light-weight, briquette-like material [2,5]. In this paper, the carbon density and the carbon distribution in various foams were determined either by bulk measurements of weight and volume or by x-ray computed tomography (CT)

Quantitative Nondestructive Density Determinations of Very Low-Density Carbon Foams

Carbon foams have been manufactured at EG&G Mound Applied Technologies through the use of a salt replica process [1,2] that has been modified by a Mound propriety process [3]. Applications of these foams have been described in an early publication [4]. In the basic process [1,2] of manufacturing the foams, salt is pressed into bars; the bars are then cured, infused with polymer and cured again. The salt is then removed by copious solvent rinsings and finally carbonized into very porous and light-weight, briquette-like material [2,5]. In this paper, the carbon density and the carbon distribution in various foams were determined either by bulk measurements of weight and volume or by x-ray computed tomography (CT).</p