Appeal No. 96-0158
Application No. 08/110,003
contend but instead is for the purpose of removing excess
solution and to rupture any solution membranes that may have
formed in the pores during the soak (e.g., see line 56 in
column 2 and lines 27 through 31 in column 4).
In this latter regard, we emphasize that the soaking step
of Marek is intended to ensure that his carbon foam precursor
material is absorbed into the polyurethane strands of his
porous material substrate to thereby become an integral part
of such strands and not simply a coating (e.g., see lines 50
through 55 in column 2). Toward that end, patentee’s soaking
step may be for a period of time up to four hours or longer
(e.g., see lines 44 and 45 in column 3). By ensuring that his
solution absorbs into the polyurethane strands so as to fully
penetrate the structure (see lines 4 through 6 and 13 through
18 in column 3), patentee achieves a carbonized foam of
superior mechanical properties (see lines 20 through 24 in
column 2) relative to prior art techniques in which the carbon
precursor material simply coated the foam structure (see lines
36 through 66 in column 1 and the paragraph bridging columns 1
and 2).
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