The formation of spherical bodies obtained by so lidification from the plastic zone of liquid phase in the early stage of carbonization of coals, pitches and phenol-folmaldehyde resins were studied with polarized-light microscopic examination.
The nucleation and growth of spherical bodies occur progressively with increase of residence time at a fixed temperature, until the spherical bodies coalesce with each other. For example, the appearance of spherical bodies in naphtha-tar pitch can be observed at a low temperature such as 350°C for 20hrs.
In general, it was observed that non-graphitizing carbons have usually the isotropic texture, but graphitizing carbons have the anisotropic texture under the microscope.
As a result, we have recognized the formation of spherical bodies have an effect on the chemical composition of organic compounds and the residence time, that is to say, birth and breeding.
As the existance of oxygen in coals and sulfer in pitches very affect to the develop-ment of anisotropic spherical bodies, consisting of planar aromatic compounds of high molecular weight, separated from the isotropic plastic zone, it is proposed that the O.N.S obstruction is the negative element for carbonization and graphitization.
In the end, when the organic compounds are carbonized and graphitized in various temperature, the examination by using of microscope on the anisotropic texture of spherical bodies at the temperature range from 350 to 450°C of early stage of carbonization can be previously predicted the natures and structures of carbons obtained by the heat treatment of high temperature such as 2, 500 to 3, 000°C.
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