High Thermal Conductivity
Graphite Foam

 
developed by 
Oak Ridge National Laboratory

licensed by 

Poco Graphite, Inc.

and

Viatherm Corporation
 


James Klett, Ph.D.
Research Staff Member II
Metals and Ceramics Division
Carbon Materials Group
P.O. Box 2008
Bldg 4508, MS 7086
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge, TN, 37931-6087
Telephone: 865-574-5220
Fax: 865-576-8424
E-mail: klettjw@ornl.gov

High Thermal Conductivity Graphite Foam was first developed at ORNL in 1997 and patented by the DOE.  This material is characterized by a unique highly crystalline graphitic structure formed into a foam.  

The basic properties of the foam are:

  • Ligament conductivities greater than 1700 W/mK
  • Bulk apparent thermal conductivities greater than 150 W/mK
  • Very high specific surface areas (> 20,000 m2/m3)
  • Low coefficient of thermal expansion
  • Excellent acoustical adsorption
  • Excellent electromagnetic shielding

new
Click for a Brief History
of Carbon and Graphite Foams
new


ORNL Graphite Foam Experimental Properties
 
ORNL
Foam
I

ORNL
Foam
II
ORNL
Foam
III
Aluminum
6061
 
Physical Properties
Density
0.57
0.59
 0.70
 2.88
 g/cm3
Porosity
0.75
0.74
0.69
 0
 
Fraction Open Porosity 
0.98
0.98
n.m.
 0
 
Average Cell Size
350
60
350-400
0.98
microns
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion
0-1 (z)
1-3 (x-y)
n.m.
n.m.
 17
 ppm/°C
Max Operating Temperature
in Air
500
500
500
 600
 °C
Mechanical Properties
Tensile Strength
0.7 
n.m.
n.m.
180
 MPa
Compressive Strength
2.1
5.0
5.1
--
 MPa
Compressive Modulus
0.144
0.180
0.413
70
 GPa
Thermal Properties 
Bulk Thermal Diffusivity
4.53
3.1
3.52
0.81
cm2/s 
Bulk Thermal Conductivity
 175
134
170
180
 W/m·K
Specific Heat Capacity
691
691
691
890
 J/Kg·K

  
Some Graphs of Freqently Requested Properties

Thermal conductivity of graphite foams
at different densities made
with different precursor mesophase pitches

tc
Relationship between thermal conductivity and electrical resistivity of the graphite foams

ER-TC
Cryogenic Thermal Conductivity of PocoFoam® versus Temperature

TC-ligaments

Acoustical Absorption

The Graphite Foam exhibits acoustic absorption superior to most acoustical foam,
yet is extremly thermally conductive



 acoustics
Printed with Permision of GTRI
Permision needed from GTRI to re-print this figure

EMI Shielding

The graphite foam reflects incedent
electromagnetic energy extremely well
(i.e. it is a great EMI shield)


EMI
Water Pressure Drop

(psi vs. water velocity)

water pressure drop
Water Pressure Drop

(psi vs. air velocity)

air pressure drop


 

Select from one of the following files for more information:
 


MOVIE OF PERSONAL COOLING FOR HELICOPTER PILOTS
Funded by NAVAIR/ONR

.MPG version                     .AVI version

Movie of Passive Evaporative Cooling (PEC) device
cooling a Simulated Computer Chip at 100 W/cm2
(die temperature is 69°C)

Short version (~3 MB)

Long Version ~(90 MB)


LICENSEE's

Poco Graphite, Inc.
1601 South State Street
Decatur, TX 76234
Telephone: 940-393-4324
Fax: 940-393-8435
E-mail: thermal@poco.com

Viatherm Corporation
Innovative Thermal Management Solutions
Katie Vandergriff, CEO
P.O. Box 30197 
Knoxville, TN 37830-0197 
Phone: (865) 531-0434 
Fax: (865) 531-0499
KVandergriff@MKTechnologiesCorp.com
 


Relevant Patents:
Relevant Publications: