Porosity control in glassy carbon by rheological study of the furfuryl resin Original Research Article

Due to its low density, good mechanical properties and chemical inertness, glassy carbon has been studied for applications in several fields. Recently, studies have been carried out aiming at its application in optical systems used in satellites and in medical artifacts. In order to minimize the presence of pores, an adequate optimization of the process is necessary. This paper reports the results of thermal and rheological analyses of furfuryl resin correlating these results with pore distribution of the polymerized resin at 50, 60 and 70°C and the glassy carbon obtained from the carbonization of these samples. Comparing the results it is observed that the samples cured above the minimum viscosity temperature, at 70°C, present a larger total fractional porosity (2.05%) and a wide spread of pore sizes (40–300 μm). The glassy carbon obtained from resin polymerized at 60°C, below the minimum viscosity temperature, presents the lowest total fractional porosity (1.01%) and the narrowest pore size distribution (40–160 μm).