Effect of different secondary quinoline insoluble content on the cellular structure of carbon foam derived from coal tar pitch

Carbon foam was produced using mesophase pitches obtained under different temperatures as precursors, via foaming and carbonization process. The physicochemical properties of mesophase pitch, as well as the microstructure and physical properties of carbon foam were investigated by optical microscope, infrared spectrometer, thermograviment analyzer (TGA), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and universal testing machine, respectively. The results show that the amount of secondary quinoline insoluble in mesophase pitches increase with heat-treatment temperature increase, meanwhile, the cell size of carbon foams increased firstly and then reduced. Moreover, the compressive strength of carbon foams also exhibited the same variation trend. The cellular structure of carbon foam can be severely affected by the secondary quinoline insoluble content of mesophase pitch; thus it is critical to tailor the secondary quinoline insoluble content of mesophase pitch for obtaining carbon foam with high performance.