Carbonization behavior of hydrogenated ethylene tar pitch

Abstract

Carbonization behavior of ethylene tar pitch has been studied with respect to mesophase formation by means of modification of the chemical composition of the starting materials. The hydrogen treatment of ethylene tar pitch has been carried out over the temperature range from 473 to 673 K under a pressure of 10 MPa without catalyst. Then, the hydrogenated ethylene tar pitches were carbonized at 723 K and the optical texture of the resultant cokes were assesed by optical microscopy. It was revealed that the carbonization of the ethylene tar pitch hydrogenated at 673 K gives a coke of optical texture with enlarged flow-domain. The hydrogen-transfer ability of the ethylene tar pitches during the temperature range of mesophase formation was estimated by the method of 9,10 dihydroanthracene (DHA) formation through co-carbonization of the pitch with anthracene. It was recognized that the larger the amount of conversion of DHA, the better is the development of optical texture.