This study aimed to investigate the influence of mesoporous carbons on the thermal insulation properties of epoxy/mesoporous carbon composites. The mesoporous carbon (CMK-3) was prepared by conventional templating method using SBA-15. The epoxy/mesoporous carbon composites were prepared by mixing the synthesized CMK-3 with diglycidylether of bisphenol A (DGEBA). As experimental results, the curing reactivities of the DGEBA/CMK-3 composites were found to decrease with the addition of the CMK-3. Also, the thermal conductivities of DGEBA/CMK-3 composites were found to decrease with increasing CMK-3 content. This could be interpreted in terms of the slow thermal diffusion rate resulting in pore volume existing in the gaps in the interfaces between the mesoporous carbon and the DGEBA matrix.

For the purpose of surveying any possibility of anchoring titanium dioxide on activated carbons to promote their activities as catalysts and/or adsorbents, two activated carbons were oxidized with ammonium peroxydisulfate and followed by anchoring titanium dioxide. The anchoring of titanium dioxide on the oxidized activated carbons were performed via the adsorption of tetrabutyltitanate, hydrolysis with deionized water, and calcination. The effect of oxidizing and anchoring treatment on the surface element composition, surface area, and pore texture were analyzed by XPS, BET and TPD. The oxidation of activated carbons with ammonium peroxydisulfate introduced carboxyl groups on the surface of activated carbons and these carboxyl groups promoted the anchoring of titanium oxide on the activated carbons. However, the treatments affected the surface area and the porosity of activated carbons.