Abstract: Tools for the forming of composite parts from composite forming materials, having tool bodies that comprise, at least in part, high density carbon foam where a surface of the high density carbon foam may comprise a tool face or support tool face materials. The tools of the present invention may be lighter, more durable, and less costly to produce and/or use than conventional tools used for the production of composite parts, particularly those tools used for the production of carbon composites. Additionally, such tools may be reusable, repairable, and more readily modifiable.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided coal-based cellular or porous products, also referred to herein as “carbon foams”, having a density of preferably between about 0.1 g/cm3 and about 0.8 g/cm3 and most preferably between about 0.3 and about 0.4 g/cm3 that are produced by the controlled heating of coal particulate preferably up to ¼ inch in diameter in a “mold” and under a non-oxidizing atmosphere. The coal-based cellular or porous products of the present invention have ash contents typically greater than about 1%. More typically these coal-based cellular or porous products have ash contents greater than about 3%, with ash contents in the range of about 7% to 15% being most typical. The ash residue remaining after essentially complete combustion/oxidation of these coal-based cellular or porous products is predominately composed of oxides of aluminum and silicon. Additionally, the cellular coal-based products of the present invention have relatively low overall B.E.T. surface areas.

Abstract: Tools for the forming of composite parts from composite forming materials, having tool bodies that comprise, at least in part, carbon foam and high density carbon foam are described. In some embodiments, a surface of the carbon foam or high density carbon foam may comprise a tool face. In other embodiments, the carbon foam or high density carbon foam may support an other material, referred to as tool face material, wherein a surface of the tool face material may comprise a tool face. The tools of the present invention may be lighter, more durable, and less costly to produce and/or use than conventional tools used for the production of composite parts, particularly those tools used for the production of carbon composites. Additionally, such tools may be reusable, repairable, and more readily modifiable.

Abstract: Enclosures for at least partially shielding an at least partially enclosed volume from electromagnetic interference and various methods for producing such enclosures are described. Enclosures for at least partially shielding an at least partially enclosed volume from electromagnetic interference may be prepared by bonding at least two sections of carbon foam with a carbonizable binder to provide an enclosure, wherein said enclosure defines an at least partially enclosed volume, and carbonizing the carbonizable binder to provide an electrically conductive carbon char. An enclosure for at least partially shielding an at least partially enclosed volume from electromagnetic interference may include at least two sections of electrically conductive carbon foam interconnected by an electrically conductive carbon char. The electrically conductive carbon char is substantially electrically continuous with the sections of electrically conductive carbon foam.

Abstract: A system comprising an activated carbon bed in contact with carbon foam is described. In some embodiments, the system, which may be a fluid treatment system, may comprise an activated carbon bed and a carbon foam section covering at least a portion of a surface of the activated carbon bed. In other embodiments, a fluid treatment system may comprise two or more activated carbon beds which are at least partially separated by one or more carbon foam sections. Further embodiments of a fluid treatment system may comprise a vessel, where one or more walls of the vessel comprises carbon foam, and an activated carbon bed contained within the vessel. Still further, a fluid treatment system may comprise an activated carbon bed and a carbon foam section at least partially contained within said activated carbon bed.

Abstract: An assembly comprising carbon foam and high density carbon foam is described. In some embodiments, such an assembly may be a composite or composite assembly. One or more pieces of carbon foam and high density carbon foam may comprise the assembly. The assembly may comprise other materials in addition to the carbon foam and high density carbon foam. One or more of any given type of other material may be incorporated into the composite. Additionally, a given other material may be incorporated in more than one volume or location on or in the assembly. The other materials may provide for bonding of the elements of the assembly together, strengthening of the assembly, increased assembly oxidation and weathering resistance, modification of the electrical, thermal, or fluid transport properties of the assembly, and any of a number of other purposes.

Abstract: Tools for the forming of composite parts from composite forming materials, having tool bodies that comprise, at least in part, carbon foam and high density carbon foam are described. In some embodiments, a surface of the carbon foam or high density carbon foam may comprise a tool face. In other embodiments, the carbon foam or high density carbon foam may support an other material, referred to as tool face material, wherein a surface of the tool face material may comprise a tool face. The tools of the present invention may be lighter, more durable, and less costly to produce and/or use than conventional tools used for the production of composite parts, particularly those tools used for the production of carbon composites. Additionally, such tools may be reusable, repairable, and more readily modifiable.

Abstract: Tools for the forming of composite parts from composite forming materials, having tool bodies that comprise, at least in part, high density carbon foam where a surface of the high density carbon foam may comprise a tool face or support tool face materials. The tools of the present invention may be lighter, more durable, and less costly to produce and/or use than conventional tools used for the production of composite parts, particularly those tools used for the production of carbon composites. Additionally, such tools may be reusable, repairable, and more readily modifiable.

Abstract: A shield for deflecting or shielding exhaust gas streams is described. The exhaust shield may comprise a shielding layer comprised of high density carbon foam. The exhaust shield may include an exhaust shield support layer affixed to the shielding layer. In some embodiments the exhaust shield support layer comprises carbon foam. If desired the exhaust shield may be comprised of more than one layer of high density carbon foam or carbon foam. The layers of carbon foam and high density carbon foam may be arranged sequentially through the thickness of the panel. The exhaust shield may be used to protect structures from exhaust gas streams such as those from engines or motors, including jet engines or rocket motors.

Abstract: Methods for the production of carbon foam from swelling coals that do not require the use of high process pressures, oxidized coal, devolatized coal, or high-strength, foam expansion confining molds are described. In some embodiments, a comminuted swelling bituminous coal is heated to a first elevated temperature sufficient to result in the coal particles softening and melting together to form a substantially homogeneous open cell plastic carbon material. The substantially homogeneous open cell plastic carbon material may then be heated to a second elevated temperature at a slow rate to form carbon foam. In some embodiments, the resulting carbon foam may be heated to a higher third elevated temperature. The resulting carbon foam may be subsequently heated to elevated temperatures as great as 3200° C. or more.

Abstract: A method for increasing the yield of carbon foam is described. The method includes placing a foaming sheet over the top surface of the material to be foamed. In certain embodiments, the foaming sheet is placed over the top surface of particulate coal prior to and during the foaming process. In some embodiments the foaming sheet is a smooth, continuous sheet, such as aluminum foil or the like. The resulting carbon product includes an increased amount of usable carbon foam.

Abstract: An assembly comprising carbon foam and high density carbon foam is described. In some embodiments, such an assembly may be a composite or composite assembly. One or more pieces of carbon foam and high density carbon foam may comprise the assembly. The assembly may comprise other materials in addition to the carbon foam and high density carbon foam. One or more of any given type of other material may be incorporated into the composite. Additionally, a given other material may be incorporated in more than one volume or location on or in the assembly. The other materials may provide for bonding of the elements of the assembly together, strengthening of the assembly, increased assembly oxidation and weathering resistance, modification of the electrical, thermal, or fluid transport properties of the assembly, and any of a number of other purposes.

Abstract: Tools for the forming of composite parts from composite forming materials, having tool bodies that comprise, at least in part, carbon foam and graphite are described. In some embodiments, a surface of the carbon foam or graphite may comprise at least a portion of a tool face. In other embodiments, the carbon foam or graphite may support another material, referred to as tool face material, wherein a surface of the tool face material, may comprise at least a portion of a tool face. The tools of the present invention may be lighter, more durable, and less costly to produce and/or use than conventional tools used for the production of composite parts, particularly those tools used for the production of carbon composites. Additionally, such tools may be reusable, repairable, and more readily modifiable.

Abstract: A microsystem manipulation apparatus and an associated kit is described that may be used to facilitate the assembly and testing of Microsystems and microsystem components. The microsystem manipulation apparatus may include a scanning electron microscope imaging system, a stage, and at least one manipulator having an associated tool. The microsystem manipulation apparatus may be partially or fully automated to provide for routine microsystem assembly, disasembly, and/or testing. The associated kit may include one or more manipulators and associated tools for retrofitting an existing scanning electron microscope to produce a microsystem manipulation apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods for simultaneously producing, within a single container, two or more sections of high density carbon foam materials of defined shape. A method used to prepare high density carbon foam sections may involve heating a comminuted agglomerating bituminous coal bed, that is at least partially divided into two or more sections by the use of partitions within the coal bed, to an elevated temperature sufficient to result in the coal particles softening and melting together to form sections of a generally homogeneous, continuous, open cell carbon material. The sections of homogeneous open cell carbon material are then maintained at an elevated temperature for a period of time sufficient to substantially reduce or essentially eliminate the plastic properties of the bituminous coal. As desired, the resultant high density carbon foam sections may be cooled to essentially ambient temperatures or immediately or subsequently heated to elevated temperatures as great as about 3200° C.

Abstract: Enclosures for at least partially shielding an at least partially enclosed volume from electromagnetic interference and various methods for producing such enclosures are described. Enclosures for at least partially shielding an at least partially enclosed volume from electromagnetic interference may be prepared by bonding at least two sections of carbon foam with a carbonizable binder to provide an enclosure, wherein said enclosure defines an at least partially enclosed volume, and carbonizing the carbonizable binder to provide an electrically conductive carbon char. An enclosure for at least partially shielding an at least partially enclosed volume from electromagnetic interference may include at least two sections of electrically conductive carbon foam interconnected by an electrically conductive carbon char. The electrically conductive carbon char is substantially electrically continuous with the sections of electrically conductive carbon foam.

Abstract: Carbon foam assemblies and a method for the production of such carbon foam assemblies are described where the carbon foam assemblies are characterized in that they are comprised of at least two pieces of carbon foam joined by a carbonaceous region, where carbon of the at least two pieces of carbon foam and carbonaceous region is continuous. A method for producing a carbon foam assembly may comprise bonding at least two pieces of carbonizable polymeric foam together with a carbonizable adhesive to provide a carbonizable polymeric foam assembly, and heating the carbonizable polymeric foam assembly to an elevated temperature to carbonize the carbonizable polymeric foam assembly and provide a carbon foam assembly.

Abstract: Assemblies or structures of carbon foam pieces connected with carbon char and methods for preparing such assemblies or structures are described. In certain embodiments an assembly may include two or more pieces of carbon foam bonded together by carbon char. The carbon char is derived from a carbonizable binder. A carbon foam assembly may be prepared by bonding at least one piece of carbon foam to at least one other piece of carbon foam with a carbonizable binder to provide an initial carbon foam assembly, and carbonizing the carbonizable binder of the initial carbon foam assembly to produce a carbon char and provide a carbon foam assembly.

Abstract: A method for producing a one-piece carbon foam article having a complex geometric shape is described. The method may include heating a carbonizable polymeric foam article having a complex geometric shape to temperature sufficient to carbonize the polymer foam and produce carbon foam. The resulting carbon foam article retains substantially the same shape and physical pore structure of the carbonizable polymeric foam article.

Abstract: Carbon foam enclosures for at least partially shielding an at least partially enclosed volume from electromagnetic interference (EMI) and methods for making the carbon foam enclosures are described. The enclosure may comprise at least two sections of electrically conductive carbon foam interconnected by an electrically conductive carbon char that is substantially electrically continuous and substantially structurally continuous with the carbon foam of the walls.