Influence of carbon nanotubes on the preparation of mesocarbon microbeads

Mesocarbon microbeads (MCMB) were prepared from coal tar pitch and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The morphologie and structure of the MCMB were investigated by SEM, laser particle size analyzer and XRD. The effect of CNTs addition on the morphologie, particle size, yield, crystallite structure of MCMB and technological parameter was investigated. The results show that adding CNTs enhances the nucleation and inhibits the growth and coalescence of MCMB, and the MCMB made in the presence of CNTs tend to have smaller size and more uniform size distribution, but more CNTs can lead to poor spherical degrees and lower yields of mesocarbon. The textural layers of the MCMBs were disturbed by the CNTs and the addition of CNTs decreased the graphitization degree of the MCMB. Compared with the raw CNTs, the CNTs treated with blended acid can achieve better sphere and more uniform MCMBs with increasing CNTs ratio.