@article{ART003341937},
author={Zhou Guangxue and Lou Bin and Li Jun and Wang Xiangdong and Shi Nan and Wen Fushan and Yang Xiujie and Liu Dong},
title={Effects of mass and heat transfer on the development of microcrystalline structure of mesophase pitch and the properties of derived carbon fibers},
journal={Carbon Letters},
issn={1976-4251},
year={2026},
volume={36},
number={1},
pages={283-302},
doi={10.1007/s42823-025-01017-y}
TY - JOUR
AU - Zhou Guangxue
AU - Lou Bin
AU - Li Jun
AU - Wang Xiangdong
AU - Shi Nan
AU - Wen Fushan
AU - Yang Xiujie
AU - Liu Dong
TI - Effects of mass and heat transfer on the development of microcrystalline structure of mesophase pitch and the properties of derived carbon fibers
JO - Carbon Letters
PY - 2026
VL - 36
IS - 1
PB - Korean Carbon Society
SP - 283
EP - 302
SN - 1976-4251
AB - To study the influence of mass and heat transfer on the microcrystalline structure and properties of mesophase pitch and resulting carbon fiber properties, mesophase pitches were synthesized via pressurized/N₂-blowing thermal condensation with different stirring rates, with experimental conditions optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). RSM analysis confirmed that mesophase content was highly dependent on stirring rate (p < 0.05), and the influencing factors on the formation of mesophase pitch is ranked as reaction temperature > duration time > stirring rate > reaction pressure. The results demonstrated that a moderate increase in stirring rate enhanced molecular diffusion and heat transfer, improving reaction kinetics and aromatic molecule interactions. This accelerated mesophase sphere growth and coalescence while inducing molecular orientation via shear, ultimately yielding a wide-domain optical texture with 100 vol% mesophase content and an optimal softening point (294 °C). The mesophase pitch produced at 300 rpm (MP-300) exhibited a high aromatic structure content (Har = 73.24 wt%), methylene bridges (HF = 3.21 wt%), and fusible/soluble TI-PS sub-fraction (35.7 wt%). MP-300 also displayed exceptional aromaticity (fa = 0.91) and molecular stacking ((Lc = 5.4674 nm, N = 14.7536). Consequently, the resulting carbon fiber (MPCF-300) achieved optimal mechanical properties, with a tensile modulus of 168 GPa and a tensile strength of 1428 MPa. However, excessive stirring rates were found to disrupt molecular cross-linking and stacking, reducing condensation degree, disordering the orderly arrangement of the mesophase molecules, and ultimately impairing the fiber performance. These findings advance the understanding of mesophase pitch formation and provide critical insights for optimizing liquid-phase carbonization theory.
KW - Mesophase pitch Carbon fiber Mechanical stirring Molecular orientation
DO - 10.1007/s42823-025-01017-y
ER -
Zhou Guangxue, Lou Bin, Li Jun, Wang Xiangdong, Shi Nan, Wen Fushan, Yang Xiujie and Liu Dong. (2026). Effects of mass and heat transfer on the development of microcrystalline structure of mesophase pitch and the properties of derived carbon fibers. Carbon Letters, 36(1), 283-302.
Zhou Guangxue, Lou Bin, Li Jun, Wang Xiangdong, Shi Nan, Wen Fushan, Yang Xiujie and Liu Dong. 2026, "Effects of mass and heat transfer on the development of microcrystalline structure of mesophase pitch and the properties of derived carbon fibers", Carbon Letters, vol.36, no.1 pp.283-302. Available from: doi:10.1007/s42823-025-01017-y
Zhou Guangxue, Lou Bin, Li Jun, Wang Xiangdong, Shi Nan, Wen Fushan, Yang Xiujie, Liu Dong "Effects of mass and heat transfer on the development of microcrystalline structure of mesophase pitch and the properties of derived carbon fibers" Carbon Letters 36.1 pp.283-302 (2026) : 283.
Zhou Guangxue, Lou Bin, Li Jun, Wang Xiangdong, Shi Nan, Wen Fushan, Yang Xiujie, Liu Dong. Effects of mass and heat transfer on the development of microcrystalline structure of mesophase pitch and the properties of derived carbon fibers. 2026; 36(1), 283-302. Available from: doi:10.1007/s42823-025-01017-y
Zhou Guangxue, Lou Bin, Li Jun, Wang Xiangdong, Shi Nan, Wen Fushan, Yang Xiujie and Liu Dong. "Effects of mass and heat transfer on the development of microcrystalline structure of mesophase pitch and the properties of derived carbon fibers" Carbon Letters 36, no.1 (2026) : 283-302.doi: 10.1007/s42823-025-01017-y
Zhou Guangxue; Lou Bin; Li Jun; Wang Xiangdong; Shi Nan; Wen Fushan; Yang Xiujie; Liu Dong. Effects of mass and heat transfer on the development of microcrystalline structure of mesophase pitch and the properties of derived carbon fibers. Carbon Letters, 36(1), 283-302. doi: 10.1007/s42823-025-01017-y
Zhou Guangxue; Lou Bin; Li Jun; Wang Xiangdong; Shi Nan; Wen Fushan; Yang Xiujie; Liu Dong. Effects of mass and heat transfer on the development of microcrystalline structure of mesophase pitch and the properties of derived carbon fibers. Carbon Letters. 2026; 36(1) 283-302. doi: 10.1007/s42823-025-01017-y
Zhou Guangxue, Lou Bin, Li Jun, Wang Xiangdong, Shi Nan, Wen Fushan, Yang Xiujie, Liu Dong. Effects of mass and heat transfer on the development of microcrystalline structure of mesophase pitch and the properties of derived carbon fibers. 2026; 36(1), 283-302. Available from: doi:10.1007/s42823-025-01017-y
Zhou Guangxue, Lou Bin, Li Jun, Wang Xiangdong, Shi Nan, Wen Fushan, Yang Xiujie and Liu Dong. "Effects of mass and heat transfer on the development of microcrystalline structure of mesophase pitch and the properties of derived carbon fibers" Carbon Letters 36, no.1 (2026) : 283-302.doi: 10.1007/s42823-025-01017-y
