PYROLYSIS OF HOLLOW CARBONS ON MELTED CATALYST

Pyrolysis of hydrocarbon compounds on evaporated metal-based catalysts was used to produce carbon shells, hollow fibers and other hollow car bon forms. The carbon structures were investigated using transmission electron microscopy. A kinetic model for their formation and the mecha nisms for obtaining different types of hollow carbons are proposed. In this model two competing processes, the linear growth rate of the car bon and the catalyst outlet rate relative to the growing carbon, deter mine the type of hollow carbon that forms. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science L td. All rights reserved.