Shock compression of a low-density carbon foam

•X-ray phase contrast imaging and velocimetry were used to measure shock states of a carbon foam.•Dynamic X-ray phase contrast imaging reduced errors of the measured states.•The foam exhibits anomalous compression arising from shock heating. Porous polymer foams are found in numerous applications where they may be subjected to dynamic compression. The shockwave properties of polymer foams have several features that make shock Hugoniot measurements and interpretation challenging. Here, we present a comparison of dynamic X-ray phase contrast imaging and traditional optical velocimetry approaches to measuring the shocked states for a low-density carbon foam. Overall, dynamic X-ray phase contrast imaging was found to reduce errors associated with the measured Hugoniot states. The foam exhibits anomalous compression as expected due to its high initial porosity arising from shock heating.