Catalytic graphitization of phenolic resin for carbon containing refractories

• Grant number: 18/13605-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2018
• End date: August 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Alessandra de Almeida Lucas
• Grantee: Laura Ferreira Rós Carpanez
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Phenolic resins (PR) can be used as binders in carbon containing refractory. They are less toxic than pitch, which is traditionally used in this application. Under refractory processing thermal treatments, carbons from pitch present a good ability of organizing itself in the graphitic form. By the other hand, at the same conditions, phenolic resins result in amorphous carbon, and catalytic agents must be used to promote their graphitization under pyrolysis. Moreover, lignin has been studied as a source of renewable raw material for replacement of phenol into PR synthesis, since it is composed by different phenolic structures. In this way, the purpose of this project is to evaluate ferrocene as catalytic agent for the graphitization of a resole resin, also replacing part of the phenol by lignin (from organosolv and kraft lignins). After the synthesis, the resins will be characterized by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) for the confirmation of the correct synthesis. Their viscosity will be evaluated by rotational rheometry and compared to the viscosity of commercial resole resins. After pryrolysys, the graphitization level (GL) of the obtained carbons will be estimated by wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). The oxidation resistance of the resultant carbons will be evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).