Study on mesocarbon microbeads prepared by the emulsion method

High performance Meso-carbon Microbeads(MCMB) with regular and perfect shape, high yields and narrow size distributions were obtained by oxidation and carbonization of Mesophase Pitch Microbeads (MPMB) prepared by emulsifying mesophase pitch particles from heavy petroleum residual oil, whose anisotropic contents are respectively 85, 90, and 100% for samples PP_1, PP_2 and PP_3. Processing conditions, which affected the preparation of MPMB by the emulsion method, were investigated. Results indicate that, (1) Silicone oil is a suitable dispersant for preparing MPMB; (2) The pitches with different anisotropic contents have different optimum treatment temperatures and times (PP_1: 320℃, 30min; PP_2: 330℃, 30min, PP_3: 355℃, 30min), meanwhile the yields and morphologies of the resultant microbeads are also different (yields: PP_1PP_2PP_3); (3) The optimum stirring speed is in the range 900～1200r/min, (4) The size distributions of MPMB could be controlled by the particle distributions of the raw materials.