In situ preparation and mechanical properties of CNTs/MCMBs composites

By adding carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into medium temperature coal tar pitch, mesocarbon microbeads (MCMBs) were obtained via thermal condensation, then CNTs/MCMBs composites were in situ prepared using compression molding. The morphology, structure and mechanical properties of CNTs/MCMBs composites were characterized by optical microscope, digital camera, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and mechanical test machine. Results showed that CNTs were used as the nucleating agent and could inhibit the growth and coalescence of MCMBs. The optical textures of CNTs/MCMBs composites showed similar characteristics to the thermal condensation products from coal tar pitch with CNTs. The mass ratio of CNTs to coal tar pitch played an important role in the mechanical properties of CNTs/MCMBs composites. The density and bending strength of CNTs/MCMBs composite first increased and then decreased with the increase of the proportion of CNTs. When the proportion of CNTs was 5 wt%, the density of the composite reached the maximum (1.76 g/cm³). In addition, the bending strength of the composite reached the maximum (79.6 MPa) as adding 2 wt% CNTs into coal tar pitch.