Effect of the particle size of globular nanodisperse carbon on the texture and strength of molded Sibunit-type materials

Abstract

New large-scale technology can produce porous carbon-carbon composites shaped as 0.5–5 mm grains on the basis of globular nanodisperse carbon (GNC); these composites are referred to as Sibunit. The use of this material as units of more complex shapes, such as rods, tubes, and petals, can help to reduce the hydraulic drag of the sorbent or catalyst bed. The tasks of this study were to manufacture, via extrusion molding, rods on the basis of GNC with various primary particle sizes and to study the effect of GNC particle sizes and heat-treatment parameters on the specific surface area of molded Sibunit. The GNC particle size has a decisive effect on the texture parameters. The greatest specific surface area (600–700 m2/g) was obtained for GNC with particle sizes of (15–20) ± 5 nm with the strength retained at a level of 3–5 N/mm2. The results of this work are recommended for use in the development of large-scale technology for manufacturing Sibunit-type supports in various shapes with particle sizes of 2–12 mm and inner channel diameters of 1–6 mm.