The effect of PTSA on preparation of mesophase carbon spheres

Mesophase spheres have been synthesized by heat-treating a medium coal tar pitch at 420 °C for 2 hours in the presence of P-toluene sulphonic acid (PTSA). The effect of PTSA on synthesis of mesophase spheres had been studied. It was found that PTSA promotes the formation of mesophase spheres in coal tar pitch through accelerating polymerization of aromatic hydrocarbons. PTSA content between 3 and 5 wt % gave similar size spheres, beyond which as the PTSA content increases, the size of spheres increases. 5 wt % PTSA gives uniform spheres with small size, good spherical shape and smooth surface.