Raman study of kinetics of graphitization of carbon blacks

Raman spectra of laser heated carbon blacks provide information on the dyna mics of the graphitization process. Continuous wave and pulsed-laser heatin g is used. It is shown that two ordering mechanisms of distinctly different reaction rates are present during the heat treatment. The dominating mecha nism, during the initial stages of graphitization, is characterized by a ve ry fast rate. The rate during the later stages of the process, after the in itial first couple of seconds, is orders of magnitude slower.