@article{ART003341923},
author={Qi Yuan and Zhang Yuzhu and Zhu Yaming and Zhu Huihui and Cheng Junxia and Zhao Xuefei},
title={Study on thermal conversion behaviors of ethylene tar pitch},
journal={Carbon Letters},
issn={1976-4251},
year={2026},
volume={36},
number={1},
pages={253-268},
doi={10.1007/s42823-025-01015-0}
TY - JOUR
AU - Qi Yuan
AU - Zhang Yuzhu
AU - Zhu Yaming
AU - Zhu Huihui
AU - Cheng Junxia
AU - Zhao Xuefei
TI - Study on thermal conversion behaviors of ethylene tar pitch
JO - Carbon Letters
PY - 2026
VL - 36
IS - 1
PB - Korean Carbon Society
SP - 253
EP - 268
SN - 1976-4251
AB - Ethylene tar pitch (ETP), primarily derived from the residues of carbon black production and naphthalene purification in ethylene tar processing, is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with high carbon content and low ash content. It is considered a promising precursor for high-quality synthetic carbon materials. Thermal conversion is a critical step in the preparation of pitch-based carbon materials, as it largely determines the final structural quality of the carbon product. In this study, ETP was selected as the research subject, and a combination of analytical techniques, including group composition analysis, elemental analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), polarized optical microscopy (POM), Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were employed to investigate the evolution of the average molecular structure and carbon microstructure during the thermal conversion process. The results indicate that with increasing thermal conversion temperature and duration, the degree of aromatic condensation in the ETP-derived products gradually increases. Simultaneously, the internal carbon microcrystals become more ordered and larger in size. Notably, when the thermal conversion temperature reaches 480 °C, the aromaticity index (Iar) sharply increases to 0.42, and anisotropic structures begin to appear under POM. This suggests that 480 °C is a critical temperature point at which ETP undergoes intensified thermal polycondensation and exhibits enhanced molecular reactivity. This study provides both theoretical and experimental support for the efficient utilization of ETP in the production of advanced carbon materials.
KW - Ethylene tar pitch Thermal conversion Optical microstructure Thermal polycondensation
DO - 10.1007/s42823-025-01015-0
ER -
Qi Yuan, Zhang Yuzhu, Zhu Yaming, Zhu Huihui, Cheng Junxia and Zhao Xuefei. (2026). Study on thermal conversion behaviors of ethylene tar pitch. Carbon Letters, 36(1), 253-268.
Qi Yuan, Zhang Yuzhu, Zhu Yaming, Zhu Huihui, Cheng Junxia and Zhao Xuefei. 2026, "Study on thermal conversion behaviors of ethylene tar pitch", Carbon Letters, vol.36, no.1 pp.253-268. Available from: doi:10.1007/s42823-025-01015-0
Qi Yuan, Zhang Yuzhu, Zhu Yaming, Zhu Huihui, Cheng Junxia, Zhao Xuefei "Study on thermal conversion behaviors of ethylene tar pitch" Carbon Letters 36.1 pp.253-268 (2026) : 253.
Qi Yuan, Zhang Yuzhu, Zhu Yaming, Zhu Huihui, Cheng Junxia, Zhao Xuefei. Study on thermal conversion behaviors of ethylene tar pitch. 2026; 36(1), 253-268. Available from: doi:10.1007/s42823-025-01015-0
Qi Yuan, Zhang Yuzhu, Zhu Yaming, Zhu Huihui, Cheng Junxia and Zhao Xuefei. "Study on thermal conversion behaviors of ethylene tar pitch" Carbon Letters 36, no.1 (2026) : 253-268.doi: 10.1007/s42823-025-01015-0
Qi Yuan; Zhang Yuzhu; Zhu Yaming; Zhu Huihui; Cheng Junxia; Zhao Xuefei. Study on thermal conversion behaviors of ethylene tar pitch. Carbon Letters, 36(1), 253-268. doi: 10.1007/s42823-025-01015-0
Qi Yuan; Zhang Yuzhu; Zhu Yaming; Zhu Huihui; Cheng Junxia; Zhao Xuefei. Study on thermal conversion behaviors of ethylene tar pitch. Carbon Letters. 2026; 36(1) 253-268. doi: 10.1007/s42823-025-01015-0
Qi Yuan, Zhang Yuzhu, Zhu Yaming, Zhu Huihui, Cheng Junxia, Zhao Xuefei. Study on thermal conversion behaviors of ethylene tar pitch. 2026; 36(1), 253-268. Available from: doi:10.1007/s42823-025-01015-0
Qi Yuan, Zhang Yuzhu, Zhu Yaming, Zhu Huihui, Cheng Junxia and Zhao Xuefei. "Study on thermal conversion behaviors of ethylene tar pitch" Carbon Letters 36, no.1 (2026) : 253-268.doi: 10.1007/s42823-025-01015-0
