Lightweight and High-Strength Carbon Bulk Preparation Via Low-Temperature Pressureless Sintering of Sugar-Derived...

Bulk carbon materials are widely used in the fields of high-temperature and corrosion resistance due to their excellent stability. The inertness of carbon structure obstructs the sintering process and encourages the excessive need for mesophase pitch, high pressure, and high temperature in the conventional carbon material industry. The development of a high-strength, lightweight, and graphitizable sugar-derived carbon bulk is discussed herein. The cracking issue caused by devolatilization of the organic ingredients is well dealt with through a customized sugar hydrogel pressureless sintering strategy. The sintering process is completed without applying pressure at 1200 °C, owing to the active nature induced by glucose. Macro-sized bulk carbon artifacts with superior strengths (581.0 MPa compressive and 153.4 MPa flexural) and low bulk densities (≈1.28 cm³) are demonstrated. By carrying out the fabrication of carbon bulks using renewable glucose, this study provides valuable insights for the structural design and sustainable fabrication of future high-performance carbon bulks.