Precursor states for the Graphitization of Benzene

Abstract

Benzene has been carried out to examine whether it is possible for it to be fused togotller ,I so as to produce TPlaner sheets of arum"tic rings to form graphite. In the initial stages ot nucleation and growth a liquid-state mesophase of optical anisotropy appears as spherules as ill all graphitiz",bl" organic_ materials. With the progress of carbonisattQfl. the growing mesophase c;pherules coalesce and.chauge ill sl1"pe ill [o,ming .elatively complex bulk mesophase. Rail,ected pola.rized-ligl,t micrography using cross polari:<ers has been employed to investigate the microstructure of carbonaceous meso phase. A thermal alla.!ys~s of tho ,;ample has been unde.taken to locate the temperature i£lterva.!s of mesophese forma.tion. A particle size analysis has Deen carried OLIt LI.s~Jlg polariLed_liglJt microscopy in order to find out the size of the spherules at different heat-treatment temperatures. I',I , I II I.