INTEGRAL SHAPED REPLICATION SUPPORTS

"INTEGRAL SHAPED REPLICATION SUPPORTS" Integral shaped replication composites which may be useful for supports for catalysts or as adsorbents comprise a carbonaceous pyropolymeric structure which has been prepared by treating an inorganic support with an organic pyropolymer precursor and pyrolyzing the precursor to form a carbonaceous pyropolymer possessing recurring units containing at least carbon and hydrogen atoms on the surface of the support. This carbonaceous pyropolymer will duplicate the physical shape and dimensions of the inorganic support as well as a substantial portion of the pore structure thereof. The integral shaped replication will possess an ABD which is about 25% to 100% of the ABD of the inorganic support, and have a crush strength of from about 0.5 to about 14 kilograms. The composite comprising the carbonaceous pyropolymer on the surface of the support may then be leached with an acid or base to remove the inorganic support, thus leaving a shaped replication of particle aggregates. If so desired, the shaped replication may be further treated by depositing at least one inorganic oxide on each surface of the replication.