In　this　work,　a　simple　and　efficient　method　to　fabricate　carbon　foams　from　bisphenol　A　cyanate　ester　(CE)　was　developed.　Pyrolysis　behavior　of　the　CE　resin　was　investigated　by　thermogravimetric　analysis　(TGA),　Fourier　transform　infrared　spectroscopy　(FTIR)　and　scanning　electron　microscopy　(SEM).　Results　show　that　the　carbon　foam　with　an　average　pore　size　of　200　μm　can　be　directly　prepared　by　pyrolysis　of　the　resin　at　ambient　pressure.　The　resin　has　self-foaming　characteristics　at　high　temperatures,　and　its　development　of　pore　structures　is　mainly　in　the　temperature　range　of　400-600　ISC.　The　resultant　carbon　foam　possesses　a　compressive　strength　of　3.15　MPa　at　a　bulk　density　of　0.26　g/cm3,　which　is　due　to　its　well-developed　pore　structures　without　obvious　cracks　or　voids.　©　2013　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.