Preparation of petroleum-based binder pitch for manufacturing thermally conductive carbon molded body and comparison with commercial coal-based binder pitch

• Published in: Carbon Letters Vol. 30; no. 4; pp. 373 - 379
• Main Authors: Cho, Jong Hoon, Im, Ji Sun, Kim, Min Il, Lee, Young-Seak, Bai, Byong Chol
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Springer Singapore 01.08.2020; 한국탄소학회; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Carbon; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Coal; Conductivity; Graphite; Heat conductivity; Heat transfer; Heat treatment; Hot pressing; Ionization; Materials Engineering; Materials Science; Molecular weight; Nanotechnology; Original Article; Particle size; Petroleum; Physical properties; Ratios; Softening; Softening points; Thermal conductivity; Thermal properties; Thermodynamic properties; 자연과학일반; Pitch; Graphite block; Thermal conductivity; Softening point
• ISSN: 1976-4251; 2233-4998
• DOI: 10.1007/s42823-019-00106-z

In the present study, carbon molded bodies were prepared by using graphite/coke fillers and petroleum-based binder pitch with various softening points, and the thermal properties of the prepared carbon molded bodies were investigated. The ratio of a binder affects the molded body preparation: no molded body was prepared at a low binder pitch content, and swelling occurred during the thermal treatment at a high binder pitch content. The binder pitch thermal treatment yield was the highest at 41 wt% at the softening point of 150 °C and the lowest at 23 wt% at the softening point of 78 °C. A significant mass reduction was found in the range of 150 to 300 °C in the petroleum-based binder pitch, and in the range of 300 to 475 °C in the coal-based binder pitch. The molecular weight of the binder pitch was analyzed through the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) method. The molecular weight ratio within the interval showing the highest binder pitch molecular weight (178 to 712  m/z ) was the highest at 66.4% in the coal-based binder pitch (softening point 115 °C) and the lowest at 46.0% in the petroleum-based binder pitch (softening point 116 °C). When the petroleum-based binder pitch was applied, as the softening point was increased, the voids decreased and thus the thermal conductivity increased. The highest thermal conductivity was 99.5 W/mK for the carbon molded bodies prepared using the coal-based binder pitch and 102.8 W/mK for those prepared by using the petroleum-based binder pitch. The results showed that the thermal properties were similar between the coal-based binder pitch (softening point 115 °C) and the petroleum-based binder pitch (softening point 150 °C).