Carbon　foam　was　prepared　by　direct　pyrolysis　of　ally　novolak　(AN)-modified　bismaleimide　(BMI)　resin　at　ambient　pressure.　Pyrolysis　behavior　of　the　AN-modified　BMI　(AMB)　resins　was　characterized　by　thermogravimetric　analysis　(TGA),　scanning　electron　microscopy　(SEM)　and　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD).　In　addition,　influences　of　AN/BMI　mass　ratio　on　the　structures　and　properties　of　the　resulting　carbon　foams　were　studied.　Results　show　that　the　AMB　resin　possesses　self-foaming　characteristics　at　high　temperatures.　The　carbon　foams　have　well-developed　pore　structures　with　relatively　uniform　pore　sizes;　their　bulk　density,　thermal　conductivity　and　compressive　strength　increase　with　a　decrease　in　AN/BMI　mass　ratio.　When　the　AN/BMI　mass　ratio　is　1:1.1,　the　bulk　density,　thermal　conductivity　and　compressive　strength　of　the　carbon　foam　arrive　at　0.43　g/cm3,　1.02　W/mK　and　6.4　MPa,　respectively.　©　2014　Elsevier　B.V.