Ultralow cost reticulated carbon foams from household cleaning pad wastes

A very simple method is described for preparing ultra lightweight and ultralow cost carbon foams (density 0.04–0.075 g cm−3 and porosity 98–96%) by impregnation with sucrose of household cleaning pad wastes used as sacrificial templates, followed by pyrolysis in inert atmosphere. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the resultant reticulated vitreous carbon (RVC) foams had a fully open and interconnected porous structure. These materials are more thermally insulating (thermal conductivity 0.042–0.065 W m−1 K−1) than commercial RVC foams having similar compressive strengths (0.11–0.23 MPa) and similar densities.