Effect of nanosilicon carbide on the carbonisation process of coal tar pitch

The study describes the effect of silicon carbide (SiC) nanopowder on the process of coal tar pitch thermal decomposition during heat treatment to a temperature of 2000 degrees C. The influence of nanosized SiC powder on the pyrolysis mechanism of carbonisation product yield, as well as structural and microstructural parameters of carbon obtained via carbonisation and further heating up to 2000 degrees C was studied. The results show that the incorporation of a suitable amount of ceramic nanopowder into the liquid coal tar pitch results in a decrease in the crystallite sizes of carbon residue, while further heating up to 2000 degrees C gives rise to two carbon phases, differing in crystallinity and interplanar distance between graphene layers. The SiC addition enhances the formation of well-ordered graphite domains in comparison with those present within a pure carbon matrix. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.