KINETICS OF MESOPHASE TRANSFORMATION OF COAL-TAR PITCH

The kinetics of mesophase transformation of two coal tar pitches (CTP) with different primary quinoline-insoluble (QI) content had been stud ied.It was clarified that the mesophase transformation of CTP studied was an autocatalytic type reaction. The rate law and rate constants fo r the mesophase transformation at holding temperature of 390 degrees C , 410 degrees C and 450 degrees C were determined and the rate constan ts of mesophase transformation follow the Arrhenius equation. Primary QI of CTP decreases the activation energy from 210.1 kJ/mol to 175.8 k J/mol, and the pre-exponential factor from 2.12 X 10(13) l/h to 6.29 X 10(10) l/h; its influence on the rate constants is irregular. (C) 199 8 Elsevier Science B.V. AU rights reserved.