AUTHORS: F. Derbyshire, R. Andrews, D. Jacques, M. Jagtoyen, G. Kimber and T. Rantell
Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40511-8410, USA
The influence of pitch precursor composition on the properties of isotropic pitch fibers derived from non-conventional precursors was examined. During the oxidative stabilization of green fibers, fiber axial contraction is found to decrease with increasing weight gain. Weight gain upon stabilization also increases, and the contraction decreases, with increasing pitch carbon content and aromaticity. The opposite effect is seen with increasing heteroatom content (H, N, O and S). Similar trends are found for fiber carbonization. The net yield increases with pitch carbon content and aromaticity, and decreases with heteroatom content. The fiber tensile strength increases with pitch precursor carbon content, carbon yield and aromaticity. The activation rate of the derived fibers increased with increasing heteroatom content, especially oxygen content. While most fibers were microporous upon activation, fibers from shale oil derived pitch were mesoporous after activation.