抄録
Recent interest in carbon fibers produced from mesophase pitch has strong incentive for the development of some novel aspects in the carbonization chemistry. The properties, structure and preparation of carbonaceous mesophase pitch and derivative carbons are summarized in this paper with emphases on the phase transition, chemical structure of the components, their interaction to exhibit characteristic properties, and the preparative kinetics.
First of all, thermotropic behaviors of mesophase pitch are described according to three categories of phase diagrams, single fraction, diluted and co-operating liquid crystals, which are characterized by properties of respective components and their interaction.
Secondly, the size, shape, aromaticity and substitutional groups, including naphthenic or short alkyl groups, of the component molecules in the mesophase pitch are characterized to be correlated to its fusibility, solubility, molecular orientation and reactivity. Thus, the anisotropy and fusibility for spinning or moulding are revealed to be controlled by the blending and structural modification.
Finally, the preparative design of mesophase pitch for carbon fiber and its application for better preparation of anisotropic spheres, needle coke and blast furnace coke are reviewed based on the structural and property understanding. The usefullness and the physical and chemical mechanism of carbonization are introduced.
