Abstract

Herein, macroporous carbon materials were readily prepared by carbonization of cured body of resorcinol and formaldehyde using poly(methyl methacrylate) colloid microspheres which were employed as the template in the gelation of resorcinol with formaldehyde. The gel in the water was solvent exchanged with methanol and the wet gel was dried. After carbonization of the template-gel composite at 800°C, it was found that pores were left corresponding to the size of the template, yielding carbon materials with a fine porous structure with enlarged surface area and significant porosity. Properties of the carbon foams including the structure, morphology, thermal stability, and porosity were investigated. Finally, it was concluded that the method using polymer colloids as the template provided a facile route to prepare carbon foams.

• Keywords: Carbon foam;Porosity;Colloid;Template method;Sol-gel process;