Preparation and Structural Characterization of a Needlelike Carbon from the Refined Coal Tar Pitch

Abstract

A refined coal tar pitch with softening point of 33oC was obtained by a mixed solvent extraction method. The pitch was carbonized at 500oC to get micrometer carbon material with needlelike structure. The carbonized produce was further calcined at 1500oC for 30h. The resultant product was characterized by SEM, OM, EDS and XRD. Experimental results indicated that a mixed solvent extraction method could effectively get rid of primary quinoline insoluble (QI). SEM and OM examinations showed that there were more than 70% fibrous structures and a small amount mosaic structures. The size of the fibrous structure was greater than 150μm in length and less than 30μm in width. The result of EDS exhibited that the material mainly consisted of carbon. XRD analysis revealed that there was a sharp diffraction peaks at 26.5oC, which was corresponded to the (002) plane of graphite structure.