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Assessing Crystallite Dimensions of Graphite in Calcined Petroleum Coke

Calcined Petroleum Coke (CPC) is a graphite-based material commonly used in metallurgy, aluminum production, and fuel production. It is a raw petroleum coke derivative created during high-temperature processes. Containing high amounts of carbon, CPC has superior electrical conductivity.

The potential quality of CPC as an electrode is determined by the crystallite size (CS, Lc ), making evaluating the crystallite size of the CPC vital. super conductive carbon black

An ideal method for determining this is X-Ray diffraction (XRD), which is in accordance with the ASTM D5187 standard.

 Lc is arrived at using the following formula:

 Δpo = 2(sinθ2  – sinθ1)/λ

where: θ1 = lower angle at half peak intensity width

θ2 = higher angle at half peak intensity width

The Scherrer equation establishes this formula from scattering domains and the basic relationship between the size and the peak width.1

Lc = (Kλ)/((βobs – βinst)cosθ)

βobs = measured peak line breadth

βinst = instrument peak line breadth contribution

θ = angular location of the diffraction peak in degrees

An expression for Lc valid for calcined petroleum coke can be derived in latter formulas.

The Williamson-Hall plot is a sophisticated approach based on the deconvoluting contributions of strain and size on the peak broadening, allowing for obtaining more precise Lc values. 2

Pictured in Figure 1 is the Thermo Scientific™ ARL™ X’TRA Companion X-Ray Diffractometer. It is user-friendly and simple as a benchtop XRD system for process control and advanced applications. The ARL X’TRA Companion uses a 160 mm radius θ/θ goniometer in Bragg-Brentano geometry matched with a 600 W X-Ray source (Cu or Co).

The beam axial and radial adjustment is operated by Soller slits and divergence. Air scattering is limited through the use of a variable beam knife. An integrated water chiller is an optional feature.

The ARL X’TRA Companion offers impressively quick data collection with a state-of-the-art solid state pixel detector (55 x 55 μm pitch). It comes equipped with automated result transmission to a LIMS and one-click Rietveld quantification capabilities.

Figure 1. ARL X’TRA Companion diffraction system. Image Credit: Thermo Fisher Scientific – Production Process & Analytics

Derived from R&D carbon, graphite-certified reference material RDC-1104 was measured in reflection for two minutes using Cu Kα (1.541874 Å) radiation. To minimize penetration depth error, sample spinning was used during acquisition, and the sample was prepared in a zero-background sample holder.

Figure 2. Measurement of RDC-1104 Graphite sample. Data were obtained at room temperature. Image Credit: Thermo Fisher Scientific – Production Process & Analytics

Use of the Scherrer formula with the FWHM of the [002] reflection of graphite results in a Lc of 28.0 Å (see Figure 2). This is comparatively ideal to the certified value of 28.5(15) Å. The FWHM was obtained through profile fitting the graphite [002] reflection with a Pseudo-Voigt function. Since this is a computational approach to determining Lc, this method is compliant with ASTM D5187.

There is no identifiable influence of the Williamson-Hall method on the results of the analysis. The graphite sample displays no strain.

The ARL X’TRA Companion is an appropriate option for ascertaining the crystallite size in CPC samples, according to ASTM D5187.

This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by Thermo Fisher Scientific – Production Process & Analytics.

For more information on this source, please visit Thermo Fisher Scientific – Production Process & Analytics.

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