Title: Pitch-based carbon foam and composites and uses thereof

Abstract

A thermally conductive carbon foam is provided, normally having a thermal conductivity of at least 40 W/m.multidot.K. The carbon foam usually has a specific thermal conductivity, defined as the thermal conductivity divided by the density, of at least about 75 W.multidot.cm.sup.3 /m.multidot..degree.K.multidot.gm. The foam also has a high specific surface area, typically at least about 6,000 m.sup.2 /m.sup.3. The foam is characterized by an x-ray diffraction pattern having "doublet" 100 and 101 peaks characterized by a relative peak split factor no greater than about 0.470. The foam is graphitic and exhibits substantially isotropic thermal conductivity. The foam comprises substantially ellipsoidal pores and the mean pore diameter of such pores is preferably no greater than about 340 microns. Other materials, such as phase change materials, can be impregnated in the pores in order to impart beneficial thermal properties to the foam. Heat exchange devices and evaporatively cooled heat sinks utilizing the foams are also disclosed.

Inventors:

Klett, James W.; Burchell, Timothy D.; Choudhury, Ashok

Issue Date:

Tue Jan 06 00:00:00 EST 2004

Research Org.:

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1174663

Patent Number(s):

6673328

Application Number:

09/519,559

Assignee:

UT-Battelle, LLC (Oak Ridge, TN)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

C - CHEMISTRY C01 - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY C01B - NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS

C - CHEMISTRY C04 - CEMENTS C04B - LIME, MAGNESIA

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C - CHEMISTRY C01 - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY C01B - NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS

C01B32/00 - Carbon

C - CHEMISTRY C04 - CEMENTS C04B - LIME, MAGNESIA

C04B2103/0071 - {Phase-change materials, e.g. latent heat storage materials used in concrete compositions}
C04B2111/00189 - {Compositions or ingredients of the compositions characterised by analysis-spectra, e.g. NMR}
C04B2111/94 - Electrically conducting materials
C04B2201/32 - for the thermal conductivity, e.g. K-factors
C04B35/52 - based on carbon, e.g. graphite
C04B35/522 - {Graphite
C04B38/00 - Porous mortars, concrete, artificial stone or ceramic ware
C04B38/0022 - {obtained by a chemical conversion or reaction other than those relating to the setting or hardening of cement-like material or to the formation of a sol or a gel, e.g. by carbonising or pyrolysing preformed cellular materials based on polymers, organo-metallic or organo-silicon precursors}
C04B38/0051 - {characterised by the pore size, pore shape or kind of porosity}
C04B38/0054 - {the pores being microsized or nanosized}
C04B38/0058 - {open porosity}
C04B40/0259 - {Hardening promoted by a rise in pressure
C04B40/0263 - {Hardening promoted by a rise in temperature

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F28 - HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL F28D - HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT

F28D20/023 - {the latent heat storage material being enclosed in granular particles or dispersed in a porous, fibrous or cellular structure}
F28D5/02 - in which the evaporating medium flows in a continuous film or trickles freely over the conduits

F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F28 - HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL F28F - DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION

F28F13/187 - {especially adapted for evaporator surfaces or condenser surfaces, e.g. with nucleation sites}
F28F21/02 - of carbon, e.g. graphite

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

Y02E60/14 - Thermal storage

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DOE Contract Number:  

AC05-96OR22464

Resource Type:

Patent

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE