FORMATION OF CARBON WHISKERS BY PYROLYSIS OF BENZENE UNDER GAS-PHASE

Carbon whisker were grown by thermal decomposition of benzene in the presence of catalyst under gas phase. The effect of operation conditions such as reaction temperature and concentration of catalyst on the product yield and the form of whiskers were investigated. Morphology and crystallinity of carbon whiskers were characterized by means of SEM, TEM and X-ray diffraction. The morphology of the whiskers was relative straghtness, with 0.1∼0.5 μm diameter and 100∼1000 aspect ratio. In an excess of hydrogen, the yield of carbon whiskers increased in proportion to the first order of the partial pressure of raw material and increased with increasing temperature in the range of 1050∼1150 °C. A gas-phase growth model of carbon whiskers was developed by simultaneaous and consecutive reactions of the first order. The growth of whiskers was promoted by catalysis of particles and the whiskers were thickened by the composure of pyrolytic carbon. © 1990, The Society of Chemical Engineers, Japan. All rights reserved.