The present invention relates to a lightweight sound-absorbing and fire-resistant insulation panel including: a binder; expanded graphite; and swelling clays, and the swelling clays are formed of honeycomb-shaped layered clays containing water molecules in interlayers and have particle sizes in the range of 50 to 200 m. Further, the expanded graphite is present in an amount of from 10 to 100 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the swelling clays. According to the present invention, the insulation panel is made of the expanded graphite and the honeycomb-shaped swelling clays, thus providing excellent lightweightness, sound absorption, insulation, fire resistance and flame retardancy, and further, the insulation panel is manufactured without having any sintering, thus providing simple manufacturing processes and lowering production costs.

The present invention relates to a lightweight sound-absorbing and fire-resistant insulation panel including: a binder; expanded graphite; and swelling clays, and the swelling clays are formed of honeycomb-shaped layered clays containing water molecules in interlayers and have particle sizes in the range of 50 to 200 m. Further, the expanded graphite is present in an amount of from 10 to 100 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the swelling clays. According to the present invention, the insulation panel is made of the expanded graphite and the honeycomb-shaped swelling clays, thus providing excellent lightweightness, sound absorption, insulation, fire resistance and flame retardancy, and further, the insulation panel is manufactured without having any sintering, thus providing simple manufacturing processes and lowering production costs.

A method for the manufacture of a carbon composite comprises compressing a combination comprising carbon and a binder at a temperature of about 350 C. to about 1200 C. and a pressure of about 500 psi to about 30,000 psi to form the carbon composite; wherein the binder comprises a nonmetal, metal, alloy of the metal, or a combination thereof wherein the nonmetal is selected from the group consisting of SiO.sub.2, Si, B, B.sub.2O.sub.3, and a combination thereof; and the metal is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, copper, titanium, nickel, tungsten, chromium, iron, manganese, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, molybdenum, tin, bismuth, antimony, lead, cadmium, selenium, and a combination thereof.

A method for the manufacture of a carbon composite comprises compressing a combination comprising carbon and a binder at a temperature of about 350 C. to about 1200 C. and a pressure of about 500 psi to about 30,000 psi to form the carbon composite; wherein the binder comprises a nonmetal, metal, alloy of the metal, or a combination thereof wherein the nonmetal is selected from the group consisting of SiO.sub.2, Si, B, B.sub.2O.sub.3, and a combination thereof; and the metal is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, copper, titanium, nickel, tungsten, chromium, iron, manganese, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, molybdenum, tin, bismuth, antimony, lead, cadmium, selenium, and a combination thereof.

Articles comprising carbon composites are disclosed. The carbon composites contain carbon microstructures having interstitial spaces among the carbon microstructures; and a binder disposed in at least some of the interstitial spaces; wherein the carbon microstructures comprise unfilled voids within the carbon microstructures. Alternatively, the carbon composites contain: at least two carbon microstructures; and a binding phase disposed between the at least two carbon microstructures; wherein the binding phase comprises a binder comprising one or more of the following: SiO.sub.2; Si; B; B.sub.2O.sub.3; a metal; or an alloy of the metal; and wherein the metal is at least one of aluminum; copper; titanium; nickel; tungsten; chromium; iron; manganese; zirconium; hafnium; vanadium; niobium; molybdenum; tin; bismuth; antimony; lead; cadmium; or selenium.

Articles comprising carbon composites are disclosed. The carbon composites contain carbon microstructures having interstitial spaces among the carbon microstructures; and a binder disposed in at least some of the interstitial spaces; wherein the carbon microstructures comprise unfilled voids within the carbon microstructures. Alternatively, the carbon composites contain: at least two carbon microstructures; and a binding phase disposed between the at least two carbon microstructures; wherein the binding phase comprises a binder comprising one or more of the following: SiO.sub.2; Si; B; B.sub.2O.sub.3; a metal; or an alloy of the metal; and wherein the metal is at least one of aluminum; copper; titanium; nickel; tungsten; chromium; iron; manganese; zirconium; hafnium; vanadium; niobium; molybdenum; tin; bismuth; antimony; lead; cadmium; or selenium.

A method for the manufacture of a carbon composite comprises compressing a combination comprising carbon and a binder at a temperature of about 350 C. to about 1200 C. and a pressure of about 500 psi to about 30,000 psi to form the carbon composite; wherein the binder comprises a nonmetal, metal, alloy of the metal, or a combination thereof wherein the nonmetal is selected from the group consisting of SiO.sub.2, Si, B, B.sub.2O.sub.3, and a combination thereof; and the metal is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, copper, titanium, nickel, tungsten, chromium, iron, manganese, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, molybdenum, tin, bismuth, antimony, lead, cadmium, selenium, and a combination thereof.

A method for the manufacture of a carbon composite comprises compressing a combination comprising carbon and a binder at a temperature of about 350 C. to about 1200 C. and a pressure of about 500 psi to about 30,000 psi to form the carbon composite; wherein the binder comprises a nonmetal, metal, alloy of the metal, or a combination thereof wherein the nonmetal is selected from the group consisting of SiO.sub.2, Si, B, B.sub.2O.sub.3, and a combination thereof; and the metal is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, copper, titanium, nickel, tungsten, chromium, iron, manganese, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, molybdenum, tin, bismuth, antimony, lead, cadmium, selenium, and a combination thereof.

Disclosed herein are directed to compositions containing one or more Graphite Intercalated Compounds (GICs), chemically associated with one or more salts. In some instances, the one or more salts anionic components are capable of modifying the one or more GICs via an oxidation process. In some embodiments, the one or more modified-GIC composition's overall composition has an acid content greater than or equal to the pre-existing acid content of the starting one or more GICs.

A method for the manufacture of a carbon composite comprises compressing a combination comprising carbon and a binder at a temperature of about 350 C. to about 1200 C. and a pressure of about 500 psi to about 30,000 psi to form the carbon composite; wherein the binder comprises a nonmetal, metal, alloy of the metal, or a combination thereof; wherein the nonmetal is selected from the group consisting of SiO.sub.2, Si, B, B.sub.2O.sub.3, and a combination thereof; and the metal is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, copper, titanium, nickel, tungsten, chromium, iron, manganese, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, molybdenum, tin, bismuth, antimony, lead, cadmium, selenium, and a combination thereof.