Effect of p-toluene sulphonic acid addition on preparation of mesocarbon microbeads

MCMB were prepared at 420°C for 2 h from coal tar pitch with PTSA as additive, the effect of PTSA on preparation of MCMB had been studied. The residues were characterized by SEM and FT-IR. The results indicate that PTSA could accelerate the formation of MCMB through accelerating polymerization of aromatic hydrocarbons, PI yield increases with increasing of PTSA. By controlling the amount of PTSA addition, MCMB with good spherical shape and uniform size distribution can be produced under some heat-treatment conditions.