The multi-wall carbon nanotube-reinforced carbon foams were prepared via foaming, carbonization, and graphitization process using pretreatment pitches as matrix precursor and modified multi-wall carbon nanotube as additive. The effects of modified multi-wall carbon nanotube additive amount on the microstructure, mechanical strength, thermal conductivity, and electrical conductivity of carbon foams were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electronic microscopy, universal testing machine, laser thermal conductivity tester, and fourprobe resistance meter, respectively. It was found that the introduction of modified multi-wall carbon nanotube had a significant effect on the microstructure of carbon foams. The compressive strength and electrical conductivity of carbon foams increased with the increase of modified multiwall carbon nanotube additive amount, the maximum were 11.72 MPa and 28.89 9 10 3 S/m, respectively. However, the thermal conductivity of carbon foams increased firstly with increasing modified multi-wall carbon nanotube additive amount up to 2 wt%, and then decreased.
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