Preparation of carbon foam from silicon‐containing polyarylacetylene/quartz powder with excellent oxidation resistance

Abstract In this study, silicon‐containing polyarylacetylene (PSA) was used as a carbon source, and quartz powder (QP) was used as a filler to prepare PSA/QP composite carbon foams through chemical foaming and high‐temperature carbonization. The effects of the carbonization temperature and QP doping on the microstructure, apparent density, and oxidation resistance of the carbon foams were investigated. In addition, PSA carbon foams without QP doping were prepared for comparison. The results indicated that as the carbonization temperature increased, the pore sizes of both the PSA and PSA/QP composite carbon foams decreased, while their apparent densities and oxidation resistance increased. QP doping reduced the degree of pore shrinkage during carbonization, mitigated the increase in apparent density, and promoted SiC formation, enhancing the oxidation resistance of the carbon foams. At the carbonization temperature of 1400°C, the PSA/Q9‐1400 composite carbon foam exhibited an apparent density of 0.273 g/cm 3 and a T d5 of 731°C, which can be used for a long time in an oxidation atmosphere at 300°C. PSA/QP carbon foams had low density and excellent oxidation resistance, which makes them suitable for high‐temperature thermal protection materials in aerospace fields.