Quantitative influence of dealkylation and polymerization reactions on mesophase formation

✍ Scribed by R.A. Greinke

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1990
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 539 KB
• Volume: 28
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0008-6223
• DOI: 10.1016/0008-6223(90)90072-7

✦ Synopsis

The sensitivity of side chains on the isotropic content in a mesophase containing pitch was quantified after subjecting the decant oil based mesophase pitch to a series of Friedel-Crafts alkylation reactions. These data were then used to quantify the relative influence of concurrent thermal dealkylation and polymerization reactions on mesophase formation in another decant oil based pitch. The results show that the dealkylation reactions, which increase the aromaticity and molecular planarity of the pitch molecules, have only a minor influence (approximately 3%) on mesophase formation, while polymerization reactions, which increase the molecular size, have a major influence (approximately 97%) on mesophase development.