What is Ceramic Foam?
Ceramic foam is a skeletal material with a rigid, highly porous and permeable structure; all Duocel foams have controlled density of material per unit volume.
Our most popular ceramic foam is silicon carbide.
The matrix of cells and ligaments is completely repeatable, regular, and uniform throughout the entirety of the material.
All of our foam is open cell, or reticulated metal foam. This allows for superior liquid flow and energy absorption for a variety of applications.
Physical Characteristics of Duocel® Ceramic Foam* (8% Nominal Density)
Compression Strength | 200 psi | (1.38 MPa) |
Flexural Strength | 400 psi | (2.76 MPa) |
Shear Strength | 100 psi | (.69 MPa) |
Mohs Hardness | 9 Mohs | |
Young’s Modulus | 4 × 105 psi | (2.76 MPa) |
Knoop Hardness (100gm) | 2500 | |
Poisson’s Ratio | 0.22 | |
Bulk Thermal Conductivity | ||
· 482°F (250°C) | 3.05 BTU/ft · hr · °F | (5.28 W/m · °C) |
· 1832°F (1000°C) | 1.07 BTU/ft · hr · °F | (1.85 W/m · °C) |
· 2642°F (1450°C) | .77 BTU/ft · hr · °F | (1.34 W/m · °C) |
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion | 3.4 BTU/ft-hr-F | (5.8 W/m-C) |
· Room Temperature | 1.22 × 10-6 in/in · °F | (2.2 × 10-6 m/m · °C) |
· 392°F (200°C) | 2.06 × 10-6 in/in · °F | (3.7 × 10-6m/m · °C) |
· 932°F (500°C) | 2.56 × 10-6 in/in · °F | (4.6 × 10-6 m/m · °C) |
· 1292°F (700°C) | 2.72 × 10-6 in/in · °F | (4.9 × 10-6 m/m · °C) |
Bulk Resistivity at Room Temperature | · 4 × 105 ohm · in | (1.016 × 105 ohm · cm) |
Sublimation Point | 4892°F | (2700°C) |
Max Continuous Use (Inert) | 3992°F | (2200°C) |
Oxidation Resistance | 3002°F | (1650°C) |
Thermal Conductivity
Ceramics such as silicon carbide (SiC) have high thermal conductivity. Because of the high surface area of Duocel® foam, heat transfer to/from fluids flowing through the foam is greatly accelerated.
Duocel® silicon carbide foam is also ideal for use with phase change materials (PCM) because of the large amount of surface area, which increases coupling to PCM.
Please visit our thermal conductivity page in the technical data section for a more in depth explanation of how materials and properties effects the thermal conductivity of Duocel® foam.
Electrical Conductivity
Duocel® ceramic foam can be used in electrochemical processes that require low electrical and fluid flow resistance. This is in stark contrast to most ceramics, which do not conduct electricity. Duocel® supplements its strength in this type of application with its increased ability to withstand extreme temperatures.
Please visit our electrical conductivity page in the technical data section for a more in depth explanation of how materials and properties effects the electrical conductivity of Duocel® foam.
Strength
For Duocel® ceramic foams weight it is exceptionally strong. This strength is also extended to high temperatures. On top of that SiC is is very scratch resists at 9 Mohs.
Stability
Size
Our ceramic foam can be made up to 1” thick at 100 PPI. Larger pore sizes can be made thicker. Please contact us for more info.
Corrosion resistance
Duocel® ceramic foam resists oxidation up to 3002F. Ceramic also has high resistance to acid corrosion.
It has a hardness that reduces the mechanical wear of the surface of the foam.
Characteristics
- Low Density
- High Strength to Weight Ratio
- High Surface area to Volume Ratio
- isotropic load response
- controlled stress-strain Characteristics
General Properties
Density Range | 4-30+% |
Max Compression | Up to 25x |
PPI Available | 5, 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 80, 100 |

All of our materials are proudly 100% Made in the USA.