Refractory Open-Cell Foams:
Carbon, Ceramic, and Metal

Properties of Foam Materials

 

Abundant data on various foam materials offered by Ultramet are available on request. Selected information follows.

 

 

Reticulated Vitreous Carbon Foam

 

Typical Physical Properties

of Open-Cell Reticulated Vitreous Carbon

 

Pores sizes available
Ash content
Bulk density
Ligament density
Resistivity
Specific heat
Maximum use temperature


Thermal expansion, ppm/°C
     0–200°C                           
     0–500°C                           
     0–1000°C                         
Thermal conductivity, W/m · K
     at 200°C                          
     at 300°C                          
     at 400°C                          
     at 500°C                          
     at 650°C                          
     at 800°C                          
     at 950°C                          
Compressive strength, kPa      
     at 20°C                            
                                          
     at 1000°C in argon            
                                           
Shear strength at 20°C            
Tensile strength at 20°C          
Flexural strength at 20°C         
Flexural modulus                    

10, 20, 45, 65, 80, and 100 ppi

0.39 wt% at 1000°C

0.045 g/cm3
1.538 g/cm3
0.75 Ω · cm
0.30 cal/g/°C
350°C in air
3500°C inert

1.15
1.65
1.65


0.085
0.125
0.180
0.252
0.407
0.625
0.882

625 (10% deflection)
763 (ultimate)
391 (10% deflection)
628 (ultimate)
290 kPa
690 kPa
690 kPa
58.6 MPa

 

 

Silicon Carbide Foam

 

Typical Physical Properties

of Open-Cell Silicon Carbide

 

Pore sizes available             
Bulk density                       
Relative density                  
Theoretical ligament density 
Specific heat (10% SiC)       
Maximum use temperature

 
Thermal expansion             
Thermal conductivity           
Strength                           
Young’s modulus                
Strain to failure                  

10, 20, 45, 65, 80, and 100 ppi
0.16–1.28 g/cm3
5–40%
3.2 g/cm3
0.34 cal/g/°C
1650°C in air

2500°C inert
see below
see below
see below
see below
0.07% at 20°C

 

 

Thermal properties of silicon carbide foam produced to 10 vol% dense (0.32 g/cm3). Thermal expansion is independent of vol% density and matches that of solid silicon carbide.

 
Strength and Young’s modulus as a function of bulk density for open-cell silicon carbide foam

 

Pressure drop data for water flow through 2 × 3 × ½" slabs of silicon carbide foam with water flowing parallel to the long axis of the sample; 80- and 100-ppi foams with relative densities of 20 and 30% were tested.