Xiamen Zopin New Material Limited Established in 2011, it is a new material industry with capabilities of independent research & development, production and sales as one. Our ISO9001:2012 factory covers an area of 6 hectares and a building area of 28,000 square meters, with annual production of high-performance metal foams of 250,000 square meters. Our R&D team is composed of academicians and experts from Tsinghua University, Polytechnic University of Hong Kong, Nanyang Technological University, and other domestic and foreign metal foam professionals. After many years’ endeavor, we now own our proprietary intellectual property rights in manufacturing high purity and high porosity metal foams.
Carbon Foam Price: Factors, Estimates, and Considerations
The price of carbon foam varies significantly depending on factors such as the manufacturing process, material quality, application requirements, and scale of production. Below is a detailed breakdown of the cost considerations and estimated pricing for carbon foam.
●1. Key Factors Influencing Carbon Foam Prices
A. Manufacturing Process
Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD): Highcost due to precise control over pore size and morphology but produces highquality foam.
Price Range: $50–$200 per kg
Pyrolysis: More costeffective but may require optimization of precursors.
Price Range: $20–$80 per kg
Replication Methods: Simple and versatile but may result in less uniform structures.
Price Range: $10–$50 per kg
3D Printing/Additive Manufacturing: Expensive and still developing technology.
Price Range: $100–$500 per kg
B. Material Quality
HighQuality Graphitic Carbon Foam: Offers superior thermal and electrical conductivity but comes at a premium.
Price Range: $80–$300 per kg
Standard Carbon Foam: Suitable for general applications with lower performance requirements.
Price Range: $10–$50 per kg
C. Scale of Production
SmallScale Production: Higher perunit costs due to limited economies of scale.
Price Range: $50–$300 per kg
LargeScale Production: Lower perunit costs as production becomes more efficient.
Price Range: $10–$80 per kg
D. Application Requirements
HighPerformance Applications: Customized designs for aerospace, automotive, or energy storage systems increase costs.
Price Range: $80–$500 per kg
GeneralPurpose Applications: Standardized designs for thermal management, filtration, or insulation reduce costs.
Price Range: $10–$50 per kg
E. Raw Material Costs
Using renewable or wastederived precursors (e.g., biomass, recycled plastics) can reduce raw material costs.
Price Range: $5–$30 per kg for precursors
●2. Estimated Pricing for Carbon Foam
Below are rough estimates for carbon foam prices based on different factors:
| Type of Carbon Foam | Estimated Price per kg | Applications |
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| Graphitic Carbon Foam | $80–$300 | Thermal management, fuel cells, highperformance batteries |
| Standard Carbon Foam | $20–$80 | Heat exchangers, water treatment, air filtration |
| Recycled Carbon Foam | $10–$50 | Insulation, lightweight structures, generalpurpose applications |
| Customized Carbon Foam | $100–$500 | Aerospace, defense, EVs, specialized energy storage systems |
Laboratory Carbon Foam
●3. Comparison with Other Porous Materials
| Material | Price per kg | Advantages Over Carbon Foam | Disadvantages Compared to Carbon Foam |
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| Metal Foams | $50–$200 | High strengthtoweight ratio | Lower electrical/thermal conductivity, higher density |
| Polymer Foams | $5–$50 | Low cost, easy to manufacture | Poor thermal/electrical conductivity, low chemical resistance |
| Ceramic Foams | $30–$150 | Excellent chemical resistance, hightemperature stability | Brittle, heavy, poor electrical conductivity |
●4. Strategies to Reduce Carbon Foam Costs
A. Use of Renewable Precursors
Deriving carbon foam from biomass or recycled materials can significantly reduce raw material costs.
Example: Agricultural waste or used plastics can be pyrolyzed to produce carbon foam.
B. Optimization of Manufacturing Processes
Scaling up production using costeffective methods like pyrolysis or replication can lower perunit costs.
Example: Industrialscale pyrolysis plants can produce carbon foam at $20–$50 per kg.
C. Standardization
Developing standardized designs for common applications (e.g., thermal management, filtration) can improve economies of scale.
D. Government Incentives
Subsidies and tax incentives for sustainable materials can offset initial development and production costs.
●5. Market Trends and Future Pricing
A. Increasing Adoption
As demand for lightweight, highperformance materials grows in industries like aerospace, automotive, and renewable energy, carbon foam production is expected to scale up, reducing costs.
B. Technological Advancements
Innovations in hybrid materials, sustainable production methods, and automation will further drive down costs.
C. LongTerm Cost Reduction
By 2030, carbon foam prices could decrease by 30–50% due to advancements in manufacturing and increased adoption.
●6. Conclusion
Carbon foam is a versatile and highperformance material with applications ranging from thermal management to energy storage. While its price varies depending on the manufacturing process, material quality, and application requirements, ongoing research, scalable production, and standardization efforts are expected to make it more affordable over time.
If you're considering carbon foam for your project, carefully evaluate the specific requirements, available suppliers, and potential costsaving strategies. For further details or assistance, feel free to ask!
