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Chemical composition-driven wettability and pore structure modulation in coal tar pitch for enhanced prebaked anode performance in aluminum electrolysis

  • Carbon Letters
  • Abbr : Carbon Lett.
  • 2025, 35(5), pp.2319~2334
  • DOI : 10.1007/s42823-025-00926-2
  • Publisher : Korean Carbon Society
  • Research Area : Natural Science > Natural Science General > Other Natural Sciences General
  • Received : February 12, 2025
  • Accepted : May 19, 2025
  • Published : December 11, 2025

Ma Jun 1 Zhu Shen 1 Wu Xueli 1 He Xun 1 Wang Weiyi 2 Li Juan 3 Yang Cheng 4 Liu Yanli 1 Tu Chuanjun 1

1Hunan University
2Ankang Tailun New Materials Co., Ltd
3Sunstone Development Co., Ltd, Dezhou
4Hunan Changyu Technology Development Co., Ltd

Accredited

ABSTRACT

The constituents of coal tar pitch (CTP) significantly impact the wettability of calcined coke (CC) and the performance of prebaked anodes (PA) used in aluminum electrolysis. However, balancing wettability and carbon residue within CTP remains a central challenge in material applications. In addition, limited pore permeability and structural stability in these composites hinder the effective utilization of PA. Enhancing CTP fluidity is crucial for overcoming these challenges. In this work, a novel method was developed to modify CTP utilizing various coal tar fractions, enabling controlled modulation of CTP composition and wettability. Incorporating different fractions allowed for substantial control over interfacial bonding and pore structure. The chemical composition, functional groups, and elemental content of the CTP were analyzed via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR). Subsequently, systematic comparisons of PA materials produced from different CTP formulations demonstrated improved wettability and enhanced mechanical properties. Moreover, DFT calculations were performed to compare the adsorption energies of small molecules from different coal tar fractions with coke, reflecting the interaction strength between the molecules and the solid surface. Using micro-computed tomography (μ-CT), the refined pore structure was examined, resulting in a PA composite with an optimized balance of high strength and toughness.

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