Carbonization of Graphene-Doped Isocyanate-Based Polyimide Foams to Achieve Carbon Foams with Excellent Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Performance

Lightweight carbon foams with excellent electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding performance were prepared by carbonization process, using isocyanate-based polyimide foams as carbon precursors. The influence of carbonization temperature and graphene-doping on the morphological, electrical and EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) of corresponding carbon foams was studied in detail. Results showed that the addition of graphene was beneficial to the improvement of electrical conductivity and EMI shielding performance of carbon foams. The electrical conductivity of carbon foams increased with the carbonization temperature which was related to the increase of graphitization degree. Collapse of foam cells was observed at higher carbonization temperatures, which was detrimental to the overall EMI SE. The optimal carbonization temperature was found at 1100 °C and the carbon foams obtained from 0.5 wt% graphene-doped foams exhibited a specific EMI SE of 2886 dB/(g/cm3), which shows potential applications in fields such as aerospace, aeronautics and electronics.

Remarkable Temperature Sensitivity of Partially Carbonized Carbon Fibers with Different Microstructures and Compositions

In order to explore effect of structure on the temperature sensitivity of partially carbonized carbon fibers, different heat treatment temperatures (700, 750 and 800 °C) and heat treatment times (3 and 9 min) were used to prepare fibers with different structures. The electrical resistivities were monitored whilst the room temperature was increased from 30 to 100 °C, which was used to characterize the temperature sensitivity. The fibers showed negative temperature coefficients in the temperature range. Infrared spectra, an element analysis, a scanning electron microscope (SEM), Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction measurements were used to study the microstructure of the fibers. Through the analysis, the proportions of the graphite-like structure, graphitization degree and size of the graphite-like structure crystallite influenced the temperature sensitivity. The main electron transfer method used for the fibers was variable-range hopping. This indicated that the fibers had a potential application of preparing thermistors in polymer composites.

Construction and Mechanism of Bacterial Cellulose With High Carbon Yield By a Stretching Orientation Method

Bacterial cellulose (BC)decomposes easily and the carbon residue rate is low. These factors critically restrict its application in fabricating cellulosic carbon materials. Therefore, in this paper, a simple and facile method to improve the BC carbon yield is proposed based on the stretching orientation of BC. By controlling the degree of BC deformation, the orientation and crystallinity of the BC can be adjusted, thereby sensitively affecting the graphitization degree and carbon yield of carbonized BC. Samples were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman scattering, and low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LNMR). The results indicated that when the pre-stretched strain was 40%, the crystallinity and graphitization degree of BC improved, and the carbon yield increased significantly in comparison to that of untreated BC. Thus, a low-cost, facile, and environmentally friendly method of increasing the carbon yield of BC was developed in this study.

Formation of nanocrystalline graphite in polymer-derived SiCN by polymer infiltration and pyrolysis at a low temperature

The microstructure of polymer-derived ceramics (PDCs) was closely related to processing. This study demonstrated that SiCN matrix prepared by polymer infiltration and pyrolysis (PIP) at 900 °C inside a Si3N4 whisker (Si3N4w) preform with submicro-sized pores differed from its powder-consolidated analogue in both the content and structure of free carbon. Chemical analysis showed that PIP process had a higher free carbon yield. Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation discovered a higher graphitization degree of free carbon and the existence of nanocrystalline graphite in SiCN matrix. Dielectric properties of Si3N4w/SiCN composites were greatly enhanced when volume fraction of SiCN matrix reached 24.5% due to dielectric percolation caused by highly-lossy free carbon. Reconsolidation of hydrocarbon released during pyrolysis by gas-state carbonization in Si3N4 whisker preform was supposed to account for the high yield and graphitization degree of free carbon in PIP process.

OBTAINING MESOPHASE PITCHES FROM COAL TAR

This article presents the results of research on mesophase pitch production from coal tar. The preparation of mesophase pitch was carried out by heat treatment in an argon atmosphere at temperatures of 300, 350, and 400 °C. The resulting carbon pitches were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive analysis. An increase in the degree of surface degradation and the number of mesophase centers per unit area was observed with an increase in the treatment temperature to 300 °C. At 350 °C, a transition from an isotropic to an anisotropic structure was observed, where the mesophase centers were about 2 μm in size. A similar anisotropic structure was observed for a sample of coal tar obtained at 400 °C, and in some areas, a layered structure was observed, which could be associated with an increase in the graphitization degree of the samples. The particle size of the mesophase increases to 3.5-5 microns. The results of energy dispersive analysis showed that an increase in temperature leads to a decrease in the sulfur content. At 400 °C, sulfur is completely removed from the coal tar pitch composition. A correlation between the heat treatment temperature and the structure of the obtained pitch was established.

Effect of activation temperature on properties of H3PO4-activated carbon

The effects of different activation temperatures (Ta), ranging from 300 to 750 °C, on the ash content, yield, ignition point, microcrystalline structure, surface functional group, pore structure, and adsorption performance of activated carbon in preparing activated carbon by phosphoric acid (H3PO4) were systematically studied. The yield and volatile content of activated carbon decreased with the increase of Ta, while the ash content, ignition point, and graphitization degree showed the opposite results. The turning point of ash content increasing rate of activated carbon occurred at 500 °C. The thermal decomposition temperature of phosphonate compounds was approximately 450 °C. With increased Ta, micropores were generated first, followed by mesopores. The ignition point of activated carbon was related to the volatile content and the degree of graphitization. Activated carbon with low ash content, high yield, well-developed pore structure and good adsorption performance was prepared at 350 to 425 °C. With increased Ta, the volatile content decreased, and the ignition point of activated carbon increased. At Ta higher than 500 °C, the aromatic and condensed ring structure, graphitization degree, and mesopore ratio of the activated carbon increased, yielding decreased adsorption performance.

Optimization of Process Conditions for Continuous Growth of CNTs on the Surface of Carbon Fibers

Grafting carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is one of the most commonly used methods for modifying carbon fiber surface, during which complex device is usually needed and the growth of CNTs is difficult to control. Herein, we provide an implementable and continuous chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process, by which the novel multiscale reinforcement of carbon nanotube (CNT)-grafted carbon fiber is prepared. After exploring the effects of the moving speed and growth atmosphere on the morphology and mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes/carbon fiber (CNTs/CF) reinforcement, the optimal CVD process conditions are determined. The results show that low moving speeds of carbon fibers passing through the reactor can prolong the growth time of CNTs, increasing the thickness and density of the CNTs layer. When the moving speed is 3 cm/min or 4 cm/min, the surface graphitization degree and tensile strength of CNTs/CF almost simultaneously reach the highest value. It is also found that H2 in the growth atmosphere can inhibit the cracking of C2H2 and has a certain effect on prolonging the life of the catalyst. Meanwhile, the graphitization degree is promoted gradually with the increase in H2 flow rate from 0 to 0.9 L/min, which is beneficial to CNTs/CF tensile properties.