PECULIAR PROCESS OF COAL-TAR PITCH CARBONIZATION (TEXTURAL AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION)

A coal-tar pitch was carbonized under an overpressure with a free rele ase of volatiles and a gentle stirring by a gas. The heat treatment wa s stopped before the end of primary carbonization. Industrial and pilo t samples were studied to better understand the process. The gas flow, the nature of the stirring gas, and the overpressure were varied, kee ping a constant heating rate, residence time, and cycle duration. Macr o, micro, and nanotextures were determined in relation to some physico chemical data (fractionation, Vickers microhardness). More or less hea vy isotropic drops represent the trace of residual pitch; they are res ponsible for the specificity of the process.