Carbon foams are versatile materials with a wide range of properties, making them suitable for many engineering applications. Like other cellular solids, the topology of carbon foam structures significantly influences their mechanical properties. To accurately assess the mechanical properties of the carbon foam, it is imperative to model the foam structure in a manner that closely resembles the foam’s actual three-dimensional geometry. The goal of this study is to accurately show the actual topology of carbon foams by using a computer model to capture the three-dimensional geometry of carbon foam based on real microstructures. Subsequently, finite element analysis (FEA) is performed to determine the effective mechanical properties, such as Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio. We further compare the FEA results with previously established open- and closed-cell models documented in the literature. The findings show how microstructural topology and relative density affect the mechanical properties of carbon foams, such as Poisson’s ratio and Young’s modulus. The findings indicate a close agreement between the finite element outcomes and the results documented in existing literature.
LeiHCaoX. A novel carbon foam: making carbonaceous lather from biomass. J Mater Sci. 2015; 50: 5318–5327. doi:10.1007/s10853-015-9079-9.
2.
XiaoNZhouYLingZ, et al. Carbon foams made of in situ produced carbon nanocapsules and the use as a catalyst for oxidative dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene. Carbon. 2013; 60: 514–522. doi:10.1016/j.carbon.2013.04.081.
3.
SarzynskiMD. Carbon foam characterization: sandwich flexure, tensile and shear response. MS thesis. Texas A&M University, 2003.
4.
TsyntsarskiBPetrovaBBudinovaT, et al. Synthesis and characterization of carbon foam by low pressure foaming process using H2S04 modified pitch as precursor. Bulg Chem Commun. 2009; 41(4): 397–403.
5.
KlettJHardyRRomineE, et al. High-thermal-conductivity, mesophase-pitch-derived carbon foams: effect of precursor on structure and properties. Carbon. 2000; 38(7): 953–973. doi:10.1016/S0008-6223(99)00190-6.
6.
GongL. The compressive response of open-cell foams. PhD thesis. The University of Texas at Austin, 2005.
7.
ArenasJPCrockerMJ. Recent trends in porous sound-absorbing materials. Mater Ref. 2010; 44: 12–18.
8.
StoneRM. Strength and stiffness of cellular foamed materials. PhD Thesis. The University of Arizona, 1997.
9.
LiKGaoXLRoyAK. Micromechanics model for three dimensional open-cell foams using a tetrakaidecahedral unit cell and Castigliano’s second theorem. Compos Sci Technol. 2003; 63(12): 1769–1781. doi:10.1016/S0266-3538(03)00117-9.
10.
MaruyamaBSpowartJEHooperDJ, et al. A new technique for obtaining three-dimensional structures in pitch-based carbon foams. Scr Mater. 2006; 54(9): 1709–1713. doi:10.1016/j.scriptamat.2005.12.060.
11.
JeonIAsahinaT. The effect of structural defects on the compressive behavior of closed-cell Al foam. Acta Mater. 2005; 53(12): 3415–3423. doi:10.1016/j.actamat.2005.04.010.
12.
AndrewsESandersWGibsonLJ. Compressive and tensile behaviour of aluminum foams. Mater Sci Eng. 1999; 270(2): 113–124. doi:10.1016/S0921-5093(99)00170-7.
13.
LiuHLiTWangX, et al. Preparation and characterization of carbon foams with high mechanical strength using modified coal tar pitches. J Anal Appl Pyrol. 2014; 110: 442–447. doi:10.1016/j.jaap.2014.10.015.
14.
AkbayÖCÖzdemirBBahçeE, et al.Mechanical characterization of lattice structure produced by additive manufacturing under torsion and compression. J Cell Plast. 2024;60(1):3-22. doi:10.1177/0021955X231224775.
15.
GibsonLJAshbyMF. Cellular solids: structure and properties. 2nd ed.. Cambridge: Cambridge University Pres, 1997.
16.
WarrenWEKraynikAM. The linear elastic properties of open cell foams. ASME J Appl Mech. 1988; 55(2): 341–346. doi:10.1115/1.3173680.
17.
LiKGaoXLRoyAK. Micromechanical modeling of three-dimensional open cell foams using the matrix method for spatial frames. Composites Part B. 2005; 36(3): 249–262. doi:10.1016/j.compositesb.2004.09.002.
18.
ZhuHXKnottJFMillsNJ. Analysis of the elastic properties of open-cell foams with tetrakaidecahedral cells. J Mech Phys Solids. 1997; 45(3): 319–343. doi:10.1016/S0022-5096(96)00090-7.
19.
GanYXChenCShenYP. Three-dimensional modeling of the mechanical property of linearly elastic open cell foams. Int J Solids Struct. 2005; 42(26): 6628–6642. doi:10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2005.03.002.
20.
Van Der BurgMWDShulmeisterVVan Der GeissenE, et al.On the linear elastic properties of regular and random open-cell foam models. J Cell Plast1997; 33(1): 31–54. DOI: 10.1177/0021955X9703300103.
21.
RobertsAPGarbocziEJ. Elastic properties of model random three-dimensional open-cell solids. J Mech Phys Solids. 2002; 50(1): 33–55. doi:10.1016/S0022-5096(01)00056-4.
22.
RobertsAPGarbocziEJ. Elastic moduli of model random three-dimensional closed-cell cellular solids. Acta Mate. 2001; 49(2): 189–197. doi:10.1016/S1359-6454(00)00314-1.
23.
ZhuHXWindleAH. Effects of cell irregularity on the high strain compression of open-cell foams. Acta Mater. 2002; 50(5): 1041–1052. doi:10.1016/S1359-6454(01)00402-5.
24.
WickleinMThomaK. Numerical investigations of the elastic and plastic behaviour of an open-cell aluminium foam. Mater Sci Eng A. 2005; 397(1–2): 391–399. doi:10.1016/j.msea.2005.02.052.
25.
BrydonADBardenhagenSGMillerEA, et al. Simulation of the densification of real open-celled foam microstructures. J Mech Phys Solids. 2005; 53(12): 2638–2660. doi:10.1016/j.jmps.2005.07.007.
26.
Le SauxMLe BailJ-BBeckerJ, et al.Statistical characterization of microcellular polyurethane foams microstructure based on 2D and 3D image analysis. J Cell Plast2023; 59(5–6): 395–417. DOI: 10.1177/0021955X231215773.
27.
NazariARKhanzadeh-MoradlloM. Developing an adaptive FE model to reflect the effective mechanical properties in porous elastomeric materials. J Cell Plast2023; 59(1): 3–27. DOI: 10.1177/0021955X221147830.
28.
GrenestedtJL. Influence of wavy imperfections in cell walls on elastic stiffness of cellular solids. J Mech Phys Solids. 1998; 46(1): 29–50. doi:10.1016/S0022-5096(97)00035-5.
29.
ChenCLuTJFleckNA. Effect of imperfections on the yielding of two-dimensional foams. J Mech Phys Solids. 1999; 47(11): 2235–2272. doi:10.1016/S0022-5096(99)00030-7.
30.
PlateauJ. Experimental and theoretical statics of liquids subject to molecular forces only. Paris: Gauthier-Villars, 1873.
31.
EmirEBahçeE. Investigation of the mechanical properties triple periodic minimal surfaces lattice structures with functional graded of porosity. J Cell Plast2023; 59(4): 251–268. DOI: 10.1177/0021955X231175179.
32.
SihnSRiceBP. Sandwich construction with carbon foam core materials. J Compos Mater. 2003; 37(15): 1319–1336. doi:10.1177/0021998303033818.
33.
GibsonLJAshbyMF. The mechanics of three-dimensional cellular materials. Proc R Soc Lond Ser A. 1982; 382: 43–59. doi:10.1098/rspa.1982.0088.
AraiYDaigoYKojoE, et al. Relationship between the microstructures and Young’s modulus of 3D-networked porous carbon material. J Mater Sci. 2021; 56: 10338–10352. doi:10.1007/s10853-021-05950-x.
