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 manufacturing a carbon composite is provided. The method includes providing a carbon-containing resin material to which an appropriate concentration of catalyst particles may be added. Thereafter, the catalyzed resin may be subject to a high temperature range, at which point carbon in the resin to begins to couple to the catalyst particles. Continual exposure to high temperature leads to additional attachment of carbon to existing carbon on the particles. Subsequently growth, within the resin material, of an array of carbon nanotubes occurs, as well as the formation of the composite material.

Abstract: Disclosed are processes for producing monolithic and metal doped monolithic porous carbon disks from prepolymer organic precursors in the powder form composed of either or both polyimide and polybenzimidazole. The powders are consolidated (compressed) into disks and then pyrolyzed to form the desired porous carbon disk.

Abstract: A method for the production of a carbon or a ceramic component based on carbon, using a cellulose-containing semi-finished molded piece which is pyrolyzed. According to the invention, homogeneous large-size ceramic components may be produced, whereby a cellulose-containing, semi-finished molded piece containing fibers, chips or strands of homogeneous density distribution and homogeneous structure is used as semi-finished molded piece and is pyrolyzed in non-oxidizing gas atmospheres.

Abstract: Process of manufacturing carbon-carbon composite preform by: (i.) arranging batch of carbon fiber preforms in infiltration vessel; (ii.) flooding vessel with hot liquid phase pitch at atmospheric pressure in inert atmosphere; (iii.) raising pressure in infiltration vessel to elevated pressure, and then slowly lowering pressure; and (iv.) repeating step (iii.). An apparatus that may be used is a heated infiltration vessel capable of operating at pressures above 100 psi, possible equipped with means to circulate heated pitch inside the vessel, in order to facilitate heat transfer into the carbon fiber preforms being infiltrated by the pitch. The need for a vacuum pump is eliminated, and the time spent heating the preform is substantially reduced. Instead of vacuum, cycled high pressure is employed to infiltrate carbon fiber preforms with pitch. The use of preheated pitch as a heat transfer agent avoids the slow transfer of heat into the preform prior to infiltration.

Abstract: A method for producing non-recovery/heat recovery coke may include the steps of providing a container, disposing a volume of loose coal into the container such that a vertical dimension of the volume of loose coal in the container is smaller than a horizontal dimension of the volume of loose coal, applying a force to the coal in the container to produce a volume of compacted coal having a substantially uniform density which is larger than that of the loose coal, disposing the compacted coal into a non-recovery/heat recovery type oven, and heating the compacted coal to produce coke. The method may also include the steps of providing a container, and moving the non-recovery/heat recovery coke mass from the oven at a substantially constant elevation to the container, quenching the coke mass in the container to produce a quenched coke mass, and removing the quenched coke mass from the container.

Abstract: Disclosed are processes for producing monolithic and metal doped monolithic porous carbon disks from prepolymer organic precursors in the powder form composed of either or both polyimide and polybenzimidazole. The powders are consolidated (compressed) into disks and then pyrolyzed to form the desired porous carbon disk. Porous carbon-carbon composite disks are also prepared by adding carbon to the prepolymer organic precursors.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a coal-based carbon foam having a density of between about 0.1 g/cm3 and about 0.8 g/cm3, preferably between about 0.2 g/cm3 and about 0.6 g/cm3 and most preferably between about 0.3 g/cm3 and about 0.4 g/cm3 that is produced by the controlled heating of high volatile bituminous coal particulate in a “mold” and under a non-oxidizing atmosphere. The high volatile bituminous coal starting material preferably exhibits a free swell Index of between about 3.5 and about 5.0 and most preferably between about 3.75 and about 4.5. A number of additional highly desirable characteristics of the high volatile bituminous coal starting material are also described. The carbon foam product thereby produced can be machined, adhered and otherwise fabricated to produce a wide variety of low cost, low density products, or used in its preformed shape as a filter, beat or electrical insulator etc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ceramic filter device for molten metal filtration comprising a major ceramic phase and a minor carbon phase bonded by phosphate bond, a method for producing such filter devices, and the use of such filter devices for the filtration of molten steel.

Abstract: A carbon fiber composite sheet comprising a pitch-based carbon fiber web and a matrix resin, wherein carbon fibers constituting the pitch-based carbon fiber web have a crystallite size in the hexagonal net plane direction of 5 nm or more and a thermal conductivity in the thickness direction of 1 W/(m·K) or more. This carbon fiber composite sheet is used for radio shielding and heat conduction.

Abstract: Strengthened carbonized paper, its preparation method and uses are provided. The carbonized paper comprises a mixed spun fabric containing oxidized fibers and polyamide fibers as the reinforced material. The carbonized paper has good tensile strength and electric conductivity. The carbonized paper can be used as the gas diffusion layer material in the fuel cell for better performance. Moreover, the carbonized paper of the subject invention is useful as the anti-electromagnetic material and reinforced composite material.

Abstract: A porous carbonized fabric with high efficiency and its preparation method and uses are provided. The carbonized fabric is prepared from a mixed spun fabric containing an oxidized fiber and a polyamide fiber. The carbonized fabric has excellent gas permeability, high porosity, and good electric conductivity. The carbonized fabric can be used as the gas diffusion layer (electrode) material in a fuel cell. The fuel cell can provide a relatively high power density. Moreover, the carbonized fabric is useful as an anti-electromagnetic material and a reinforced composite material.

Abstract: A fibrous silicon carbide substrate is disclosed that is formed from a reaction between carbon fibers and silicon additives, to provide in-situ silicon carbide fibers. The fibrous structure is formed from a paper-making process of carbon or organic fibers that form a plurality of lamination members. The lamination members, each having a plurality of through holes, that when aligned in a lamination direction, form a honeycomb array of channels. The lamination members can be adapted into a wall-flow configuration for use in filtration of the exhaust of internal combustion engines.

Abstract: Methods to produce a pitch foam from a hydrocarbon carbonaceous precursor material. A gaseous blowing material is dissolved in the carbonaceous precursor material, and the resultant solution is pressurized in a vessel. As the solution is exhausted from the vessel, the gaseous blowing agent and the hydrocarbons of the carbonaceous precursor material evaporate from the pressurized solution to form a foam-like solution. The pitch foam is formed from the foam-like solution by directing the foam-like solution onto a surface, whereupon, the foam-like solution solidifies into the pitch foam.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of making a high performance carbon membranes from polymer membranes. The method comprising the steps of exposing polymer precursor compounds to a polar organic liquid before pyrolysis of the exposed polymer precursor compounds.

Abstract: A defect-free vitreous carbon material having a three-dimensional (x,y,z) size in which each of the x, y and z dimensions exceeds twelve millimeters. A process of making such vitreous carbon material employs a three-dimensional fiber mesh that vaporizes at elevated temperature, in which the mesh is impregnated with a polymerizable resin and thereafter the resin is cured. During the initial stage(s) of pyrolysis, the mesh volatilizes to yield a residual network of passages in the cured resin body that thereafter allows gases to escape during pyrolysis of the cured resin material to form the vitreous carbon product. As a result, it is possible to form defect-free vitreous carbon material of large size, suitable for use in structural composites, and product articles such as sealing members, brake linings, electric motor brushes, and bearing members.

Abstract: A process for producing a graphite article having a CTE of less than about 2.0 ppm/° C. over the temperature range of from 30° C. to 100° C. and an isotropy ratio of less than about 1.5 also advantageously having a thermal shock resistance parameter of greater than about 150×103 W/m in both the with-grain and against-grain directions, and the graphite so produced.

Abstract: A method of producing a sintered silicon carbide using a reaction sintering method, comprising: (1) dissolving and dispersing a silicon carbide powder in a solvent to produce a mixed powder slurry, (2) flowing the resulted mixed powder into a mold and drying it to obtain a green body, (3) temporarily sintering the green body in one of a vacuum atmosphere or inert gas atmosphere at 1200 to 1900° C. to obtain a temporarily sintered first body, (4) impregnating the resulted temporarily sintered first body with a phenol resin as a carbon source, (5) temporarily sintering the resulted carbon source-impregnated temporarily sintered first body in one of a vacuum atmosphere or inert gas atmosphere at 900 to 1400° C.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a densified carbon-carbon composite. The apparatus includes: a green part molding station for forming a green part; a carbonization station for carbonizing the green part; and an impregnation station for impregnating the carbonized part with a substantially curing by-product free, high carbon yield resin. The impregnation station includes a mold forming a sealed enclosure configured in the shape of the carbonized part for receiving the carbonized part and a vacuum source for evacuating the mold. At least one resin injection port is in the mold and a supply of substantially curing by-product free, high carbon yield resin is connected to the resin injection port for injection into the mold. In the preferred embodiment, the substantially curing by-product free, high carbon yield resin is a cyanate ester having a viscosity of less than about 100 cps at 250° F. and a carbon yield value of greater than about 60 wt. %.

Abstract: Coal-based cellular products that can be custom designed to have integral stiffeners or load paths, directed heat transfer paths, and/or directed mass transfer paths and methods for their production are described. Such design and production is made possible by the appropriate selection of starting materials, thermal treatment conditions and mold materials combined in at least some instances with segregation of different starting materials in different regions of a forming mold.

Abstract: A thermally conductive molded article is produced by molding a conductive composition into a predetermined shape. The composition includes a polymer matrix and carbon powders. The carbon powders are obtained by graphitizing a polymeric material that has an aromatic ring on its main chain by heating. The carbon powders are aligned in a certain direction in the polymer matrix. Thus, the molded article can be produced easily and effectively that has excellent thermal conductivity in a given direction and that is suitable for use as a heat radiator, heat transfer member, or a component thereof in electronic hardware.

Abstract: A method of producing a silicon carbide sintered body jig using a reaction sintering method, comprising: (a)dispersing a silicon carbide powder and an organic substance as a carbon source in a solvent, to produce a mixed slurry powder, (b) pouring the resulted slurry powder into a mold and drying this to obtain a green body, (c) temporarily-sintering the resulted green body under a vacuum atmosphere at 1800° C., to obtain a temporarily-sintered body, (d) temporarily-molding said temporarily-sintered body, to obtain a temporarily-molded body, (e) impregnating a melted metal silicon into the resulted temporarily-molded body by a capillary phenomenon and reacting free carbon in said temporarily-molded body with silicon sucked into said temporarily-molded body by a capillary phenomenon, to obtain a silicon carbide sintered body, and (f) subjecting the resulted silicon carbide sintered body to precise processing, to obtain a silicon carbide sintered body jig.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a simple and efficient process for the preparation of pencil lead from the spent or waste pot liners of aluminum industries, said process comprising steps of crushing the liners into small sizes, adding chromic acid to the crushed liners, washing the reacted product with distilled water, thermally shock-treating the dried mass to obtain a fine flowing graphite powder, mixing the powder with binder(s), moistening the mixture with requisite amount of water to form a stiff dough, extruding the dough under pressure to obtain product in the form of a discs, heating the dried discs in an inert/reducing atmosphere in a furnace at temperature ranging between 400–1200° C. for time duration ranging between 1 to 6 hours, and obtaining the pencil lead.

Abstract: A process for producing ceramic bearing components in which a material mixture is produced from an organometallic compound as a preceramic precursor and from silicon in element form or in the form of an alloy as a chemically reactive filler. The material mixture is subjected to reaction pyrolysis for conversion into a ceramic material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of ceramic bearing components in which a mixture of a metallo-organic compound and a chemically reactive filling substance is subjected to a pyrolysis reaction and the resulting product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an effective and rapid method and apparatus for sintering carbon filter blocks having a polymeric binder. The method employs direct contact heat transfer by gas molecule to powder particle, as opposed to conduction heat transfer from an external heating source, using commercially available sintered porous metal sheets and cylinders to form the mold and confine the powder, while allowing heated gas to pass uniformly through the mixture.

Abstract: A method produces components from high-temperature-proof fiber reinforced composite ceramics from tapes containing carbon fibers. Heating and simultaneously compacting under the influence of pressure and temperature produces a force-locking connection in the region of the contact zones. The prebody is carbonized. At least one post-compaction of the prebody is followed by a carbonization of the prebody, in which the tapes are separated from the adjoining tapes in the region outside the contact zones by graphite spacers and inserted into a clamping device. The clamping device is made substantially of graphite. As a result, the tapes and the prebody that is formed therefrom are securely fixed during the processing steps. The components can be utilized as workpiece carriers, carriers for optical components, and in the aerospace field.

Abstract: Molding apparatus for rapid transfer of molten resin or pitch in an infiltration molding process. The apparatus includes e.g. an extruder (4) for melting and conveying a resin or pitch and a mold (10) arranged so that resin or pitch is conveyed to a mold insert cavity (19) within the mold. The mold insert contains an internal protrusion such as a locating ring (25) for positioning a porous body (1, 18) within the mold insert cavity in a position that brings about unidirectional flow of the molten resin or pitch through the porous body. Also, rapid resin or pitch infiltration molding process that includes injecting a high melting point, high viscosity, molten resin or pitch into the mold to effect a unidirectional impregnation of a heated preform via a pressure gradient in the mold.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing shaped, activated charcoal. According to the method, after being ground, carbon-bearing material, or a mixture of several carbon-bearing materials are rendered homogenous with a binding agent which contains water, or a mixture of several binding agents, at least one of which contains water. The mixture of carbon-bearing material and binding agent is then formed into shaped bodies. According to the invention, in order to consolidate the grain formation, these are dried until they exhibit a maximum total water content of 3% by wt. in relation to the shaped body. The shaped bodies which have been formed and dried in this manner are then subjected to a carbonization and subsequently a gas activation process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing shaped bodies, especially threads or foils, from at least one polymer of the groups consisting of polysaccharide, polysaccharide derivative or polyvinyl alcohol by forming a solution of the polymer that contains an additive in a solvent containing amine-N-oxide, extruding the solution and precipitating the extrudate by contacting with a coagulant. The invention is characterized in that at least two polymeric solutions are formed. At least one of the two polymeric solutions contains one or more finely distributed additives and the at least two polymeric solutions are simultaneously extruded forming a combined extrudate.

Abstract: This invention relates to the use of a filler derived from cereal husk, more particularly rice husk, in composite materials to enhance the flame retardant, antistatic, accelerator, plasticiser and blowing characteristics in various composite materials.

Abstract: The invention provides a weather-resistant exterior building material which has been unavailable in the past with respect to characteristics of keeping harmful insects such as white ants, and so forth away therefrom, light weight, a long service life, insusceptibility to variation in temperature, hygroscopicity, and easiness in fabrication, and an exterior article made up of the same. The weather-resistant exterior building material according to the invention makes use of a compact formed of RB ceramic, CRB ceramic, or fire-resistant CRB ceramic.

Abstract: Carbonaceous, composite tooling fabricated from pitch-based or coal-based cellular or porous products, “carbonaceous foams” having a density of preferably between about 0.1 g/cm3 and about 0.8 g/cm3 that are produced by: 1) conventional pitch foaming processes or; 2) the controlled beating of coal particulate preferably up to ¼ inch in diameter in a “mold” and under a non-oxidizing atmosphere. According to a specifically preferred embodiment, the starting material coal has a free swell index as determined by ASTM test D720 of between about 3.5 and about 5.0.

Abstract: A carbon microrod that holds a fine object by chemically adsorbing the object on the surface to make a dynamic measurement possible. An organic substance that leaves, after firing, glassy carbon that hardly becomes graphite, such as a chlorinated vinyl chloride resin, is mixed with a fine graphite powder having an average particle size of 1 ?m, and the mixture is extrusion molded with a die having a diameter of 50 ?m; the molded article is fired to give a carbon microrod comprising glassy carbon and crystalline carbon.

Abstract: Petroleum or coal tar pitch-based cellular or porous products having a density of preferably between about 0.1 g/cm3 and about 0.8 g/cm3 are produced by the controlled heating of mesophase carbon materials derived from coal tar or petroleum pitch having a softening point in excess of about 300° C. and preferably between about 300 and about 400° C. in a “mold” and under a non-oxidizing atmosphere. The porous product thereby produced, preferably as a net shape or near net shape, can be machined, adhered and otherwise fabricated to produce a wide variety of low cost, low density products.

Abstract: An ablation resistant, monolithic, activated, carbon foam produced by the activation of a coal-based carbon foam through the action of carbon dioxide, ozone or some similar oxidative agent that pits and/or partially oxidizes the carbon foam skeleton, thereby significantly increasing its overall surface area and concurrently increasing its filtering ability. Such activated carbon foams are suitable for application in virtually all areas where particulate or gel form activated carbon materials have been used. Such an activated carbon foam can be fabricated, i.e. sawed, machined and otherwise shaped to fit virtually any required filtering location by simple insertion and without the need for handling the “dirty” and friable particulate activated carbon foam materials of the prior art.

Abstract: Fiber-reinforced ceramic composites contain bundles, tows or hanks of long fibers, wherein the long fiber bundles, tows or hanks are completely surrounded by a short fiber-reinforced matrix, with the long and short fibers having, independently of one another, a mean diameter of from 4 to 12 &mgr;m and the long fibers having a mean length of at least 50 mm and the short fibers having a mean length of not more than 40 mm, a process for producing them and their use for producing clutch disks or brake disks.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for the fabrication of improved graphite granules from unimproved graphite granules, where a polymer solution is uniformly sprayed onto a fluidized bed of unimproved graphite granules that are being stirred three dimensionally in high speed. The granules are then heat to dry to obtain coated graphite granules. To further improve the electrochemical properties of the final improved graphite granules, the coated graphite granules are immersed in a surface modifier, filtered, heat to dry and sifted. Then, they are solidified and carbonized in an inert environment to obtain final improved graphite granules. This invention is simple, easy to implement, and easy to implement for industrial production. The improved graphite granules made using embodiments of this invention, when used as the material for the negative electrode of a rechargeable battery produces a battery that has high initial charge/discharge efficiency, high reversible specific capacity and good cycle ability.

Abstract: A process for producing a fiber-reinforced, ceramic structural component comprising high-temperature resistant fibers which are reaction-bonded to a matrix of silicon carbide comprises the steps of coating bundles of fibers with pyrolysable binder and solidifying the binder, producing mixtures of fiber bundles, fillers and binders, pressing the mixtures to produce a pressed body, pyrolysing the pressed body under the exclusion of oxygen to form a porous, carbon-containing preform, infiltrating the preform with a silicon melt to form the silicon carbide matrix, in which various pressing compounds are produced, which contain fibers of different quality and in different proportions and different coatings. These pressing compounds are arranged at different levels and in different spatial directions in the press mould during the filling of the press mould. After the pressing, the regions produced in this way are retained in the press mould.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of a braking band for a brake disk with venting passages and to a braking band which can be produced by the process. The process comprises the following steps: molding a core (200) of the braking band in a suitable mold (1), molding two covers (8) onto the core in a further suitable mold (101) so as to form a semi-finished product having a “sandwich” structure, firing the semi-finished product so as to produce a predetermined porosity of the covers, firing the semi-finished product further, in the presence of silicon, at a temperature such as substantially to bring about fusion of the silicon and its infiltration into the covers.

Abstract: An molded product of activated carbon produced by molding a kneaded mixture containing an activated carbon, a solvent, and a phenol-aldehyde type resin being solid in a normal temperature and containing 50 to 95% by weight of components soluble in the solvent used, drying and curing the molding, and then carbonizing the molding in an inert gas has a high adsorption capability and a high mechanical strength, e.g., a compressive strength, especially the strength after being contacted with an acid or water.

Abstract: A process for producing solid, porous graphites which provides a more uniform density gradient throughout the ultimate product. The process utilizes a pressure drop during processing in order to induce boiling and varies the processing pressure between an initial pressure which exceeds 1000 psig and a final processing pressure which generally exceeds the initial pressure. The particular processing techniques employed allow additional viscosity manipulation as well as improved density gradient characteristics in the ultimate product. The final products have bulk thermal conductivities in the range from 90-300 W/mK with apparent densities ranging from about 0.678 g/cc-1.

Abstract: A ceramic material suitable for use in production of paving tiles, construction tiles, flooring in offices, flooring in machinery plants and so forth is obtained by a method comprising steps of mixing defatted bran derived from rice bran with a thermosetting resin before kneading, subjecting a kneaded mixture thus obtained to a primary firing in an inert gas at a temperature in a range of 700 to 1000° C., pulverizing the kneaded mixture after the primary firing into carbonized powders, kneading the carbonized powders with which ceramic powders, a solvent, and a binder as desired are mixed into a plastic workpiece (kneaded mass), pressure-forming the plastic workpiece at pressure in a range of 10 to 100 MPa, and subjecting a formed plastic workpiece thus obtained again to firing in an inert gas atmosphere at a temperature in a range of 100 to 1400° C.

Abstract: A process produces a fiber-reinforced silicon carbide composite. The resulting composite has a high toughness where bundles of a reinforcing fiber are densely covered with glassy carbon derived from a resin to avoid deterioration of the strength, and it can easily be produced even in complicated shapes. Specifically, a fiber-reinforced silicon carbide composite is produced by preparing a fiber prepreg containing a powdered silicon and a resin and molding the prepreg to yield a green body having a desired shape, or laminating a fiber prepreg containing a resin and a woven fabric prepreg containing a powdered silicon and a resin in alternate order, and molding the laminate to yield a green body having a desired shape; carbonizing the green body at 900° C. to 1350° C. in an inert atmosphere; impregnating the carbonized body with a resin; firing the impregnated body again at 900° C. to 1350° C.

Abstract: A carbon material which is an isotropic bulk material in which a rigid aromatic polymer or a reinforcing polymer is dispersed in the matrix polymer finely, homogeneously and sufficiently, and which is excellent in physical characteristics, particularly in conductivity, by mixing a matrix polymer with an aromatic heterocyclic copolymer precursor containing functional groups having heterocycle forming ability in which at least one of said functional groups is substituted by another functional group, in an organic solvent to form a mixed solution, removing the solvent therefrom to form a coagulum, thereby preparing a three-dimensional mesh type molecular composite material, and then burning the resulting composite material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of making silicon-silicon carbide ceramic using biopreform derived from monocotyledonous caudex plant stem. The present invention also provides a silicon—silicon carbide ceramic made using a biopreform derived from monocotyledonous caudex plant stem.

Abstract: A process for producing hollow bodies comprising fiber-reinforced ceramic materials, in which a green body comprising compressible cores and a mouldable composition comprising binders and fiber material which is pressed with compression of the core is produced, the green body is cured and carbonized and pyrolysed by heating in a nonoxidizing atmosphere and, if desired, the body is silicized, hollow bodies produced in this way and their use, in particular as brake and clutch disks

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a porous coal-based material having a density of between about 0.1 g/cm3 and about 0.6 g/cm3 that is produced by the controlled heating of small coal particulate in a “mold” and under a non-oxidizing atmosphere. The coal starting material preferably exhibits a free swell index of between about 3.5 and about 5.0 and most preferably between about 4.0 and about 4.5. The porous product thereby produced can be machined, adhered and otherwise fabricated to produce a wide variety of low cost, low density products, or used in its preformed shape as a filter, heat or electrical insulator etc. Such porous products, without further treatment exhibit compressive strengths of up to about 6000 psi. Further treatment by carbonization or graphitization yields products that can be used as electrical or heat conductors. Methods for the production of these coal-based cellular products are also described.

Abstract: A novel supported mesoporous carbon ultrafiltration membrane and process for producing the same. The membranes comprise a mesoporous carbon layer that exists both within and external to the porous support. A liquid polymer precursor composition comprising both carbonizing and noncarbonizing templating polymers is deposited on the porous metal support. The coated support is then heated in an inert-gas atmosphere to pyrolyze the polymeric precursor and form a mesoporous carbon layer on and within the support. The pore-size of the membranes is dependent on the molecular weight of the noncarbonizing templating polymer precursor. The mesoporous carbon layer is stable and can withstand high temperatures and exposure to organic chemicals. Additionally, the porous metal support provides excellent strength properties. The composite structure of the membrane provides novel structural properties and allows for increased operating pressures allowing for greater membrane flow rates.

Abstract: A polarizable electrode (1) includes an activated carbon/carbon composite consisting essentially of an activated carbon component and a carbon component. The activated carbon component includes activated carbon powder or fiber. The carbon component is produced by carbonizing a thermosetting resin. The composite has a density within a range between 0.70 and 0.85 g/cm3, both inclusive, and a thickness within another range between 0.7 and 3.0 cm, both inclusive.