Handbook of Thermosetting Foams, Aerogels, and Hydrogels: From Fundamentals to Advanced Applications

Abstract

Carbon foams (CF) are excellent materials with a lightweight porous structure, exceptional properties, and low cost. CF synthesized from polymeric precursors has specific qualities that make them suitable for versatile applications in various industries, including electronics, aerospace, automotive, chemical processing, and health care. Their high surface area and porosity make CF attractive for energy storage applications as lightweight electrode materials in batteries, supercapacitors and fuel cells. The structural advantages of CF make them versatile materials with unique properties. During the recent COVID-19 pandemic, the application for CF in personal protective equipment (PPE) such as face masks, respirators, nose seals, and visors has been greatly appreciated. CF can improve the safety and comfort of health care workers by providing adequate protection against pathogens while remaining lightweight and breathable. The possibility that their structure and properties can be tailored for specific applications by carefully choosing the precursors and preparation techniques has revolutionized the research and development of CF. This chapter presents the preparation methods, specific properties, and applications of CFs from various thermosetting polymeric precursors like urea formaldehyde, melamine formaldehyde, phenol formaldehyde, other phenolic blends, epoxy, polyimides, lignin, and cellulosic polymers. Special foaming conditions and preparation techniques that make them suitable for crucial applications such as thermal management, energy storage, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding are also explained. © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.