Patent attributes
Described herein are processes for preparation of a carbon foam material, the processes including the steps of heating in a microwave heating apparatus a mixture including a coal material and at least one additional agent. The additional agent can be a flux agent such a carbohydrate syrup, a secondary flux agent, a lignocellulosic waste material, a conductive carbon compound, a solvent, and combinations thereof. Also described are processes for calcining a carbon foam material in a furnace, a microwave heating apparatus, or an inductive field heater. The described calcining process can impart electrical conductivity and mechanical strength to carbon foams. Also described are carbon foam materials, calcined carbon foams, and composite materials. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.
