High density carbon foam

Abstract

High density carbon foams and methods for producing the same are described. A method used to prepare high density carbon foam may involve heating a comminuted agglomerating bituminous coal to an elevated temperature sufficient to result in the coal particles softening and melting together to form a generally homogeneous, continuous, open cell carbon material. The homogeneous open cell carbon material is then maintained at an elevated temperature for a period of time sufficient to substantially reduce or essentially eliminate the plastic property of the bituminous coal. As desired, the resultant high density carbon foam may be cooled to essentially ambient temperatures or immediately or subsequently heated to elevated temperatures as great as about 3200° C., followed by cooling.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.