Preparation and Properties of Pitch Carbon with a High Density

Abstract

This work was undertaken to prepare and to characterize a binderless carbon article (pitch carbon) with a high density. In order to prepare the variant pitch material, coal tar pitch was distilled at 500°C for 20 minutes by blowing nitrogen gas through it. The variant pitch material was pulverized by use of ball mill and, was moulded into the rods under high pressure of 1600 kg/cm². The pitch carbon (12 x 12 x 95 mm) having about 1.8 g/ml in bulk density was prepared by heat treating above 2200°C without any damages. The pitch carbon was analogous to glassy carbon in mechanical properties such as shore hardness, transverse breaking strength and compressive strength.. The electrical resistivity, thermal conductivity, graphitizability and preferred orientation of the pitch carbon were similar to those of the conventional artificial graphite. In view of its overall properties, the pitch carbon was characterized as intermediate carbon product between the other two carbon products. Moreover, it was confirmed that the moulding of the variant pitch material under high pressure is appropriate for the preparation of the large sized pitch carbon with a high density.