The effects of carbonization temperature on the structure of mesocarbon microbeads

Mesocarbon microbeads (MCMB) were prepared from coal-tar pitch by heat condensation at different carbonization temperature. The appearance, particle size distribution and crystallite structure of the MCMB were investigated by SEM, laser particle size analyzer and XRD. The results show that the particle size of MCMB increases with the carbonization temperature increasing. XRD analysis and SEM observation indicate that MCMB has a structure of graphene layers. The interlayer space (d002) of MCMB prepared at 420 and 450°C was lower than that of MCMB prepared at 430 and 440°C. The size of crystallite (La) increases with the carbonization temperature increasing.