Abstract: Provided is a porous electrode substrate having excellent thickness precision, gas permeability and conductivity, handling efficiency, low production costs and a high carbonization rate during carbonization. Also provided are a method for manufacturing such a substrate, a precursor sheet and fibrillar fiber used for forming such a substrate, along with a membrane electrode assembly and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell that contain such a substrate. The method for manufacturing a porous electrode substrate includes step (1) for manufacturing a precursor sheet in which short carbon fibers (A) and carbon fiber precursor (b) are dispersed, and step (2) for carbonizing the precursor sheet, and the volume contraction rate of carbon fiber precursor (b) in step (2) is 83% or lower.

Abstract: A device has a layered structure, and the layered structure has a graphite foil bonded to a surface of a substrate, wherein the graphite foil contains a laminate of a plurality of natural graphite flakes parallel to the surface of the substrate, wherein the graphite foil and the surface of the substrate are bonded through diffusion bonding directly, or bonded with a cured resin, a cured pitch, a carbonized resin, a carbonized pitch, a graphitized resin or a graphitized pitch in between, wherein the graphite foil contains not less than 95%, preferably 99%, of carbon.

Abstract: A multi-layered carbon ceramic brake disk has at least one carrier body, and at least one ventilation layer that containing ventilation ducts, and optionally, at least one friction layer. The brake disk is made by joining green bodies of at least one individual carrier body, green bodies of at least one individual ventilation layer, and optionally, green bodies of at least one individual friction layer. The green bodies contain thermoplastic or thermoset polymeric materials, in their solid or cured states, and by subsequent carbonization and ceramicization by infiltration with carbide-forming elements.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of carbonaceous heat sink includes a mixing step and a molding step. In the mixing step, a graphite material is mixed with a thermosetting binder to obtain a mixture. In the molding step, the mixture is pressure formed with a mold into the carbonaceous heat sink, Preferably, the carbonaceous heat sink can increase its carbonaceous percentage by using a heat treating step. The manufacturing method can produce carbonaceous heat sinks with a high carbonaceous percentage with a low cost.

Abstract: Provided are a porous anode active material, a method of preparing the same, and an anode and a lithium battery employing the same. The porous anode active material includes fine particles of metallic substance capable of forming a lithium alloy; a crystalline carboneous substance; and a porous carboneous material coating and attaching to the fine particles of metallic substance and the crystalline carboneous substance, the porous anode active material having pores exhibiting a bimodal size distribution with two pore diameter peaks as measured by a Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) pore size distribution from a nitrogen adsorption. The porous anode active material has the pores having a bimodal size distribution, and thus may efficiently remove a stress occurring due to a difference of expansion between a carboneous material and a metallic active material during charging and discharging.

Abstract: A method of forming activated carbon from microcrystalline cellulose comprises converting the microcrystalline cellulose powder into microcrystalline cellulose beads using extrusion and spheronization, carbonizing microcrystalline cellulose to form carbonized microcrystalline cellulose and activating the carbonized microcrystalline cellulose to form activated carbon. The final size of the activated carbon beads, which preferably are of practically spherical shape, can be controlled through the process of making microcrystalline cellulose beads.

Abstract: The method of laser treating Ti-6Al-4V to form surface compounds is a method of forming barrier layers on surfaces of Ti-6Al-4V workpieces. The Ti-6Al-4V workpiece is first cleaned and then a water-soluble phenolic resin is applied to at least one surface of the Ti-6Al-4V workpiece. The Ti-6Al-4V workpiece and the layer(s) of water soluble phenolic resin are then heated to carbonize the phenolic resin, thus forming a carbon film on the at least one surface. TiC particles are then inserted into the carbon film. Following the insertion of the TiC particles, a laser beam is scanned over the at least one surface of the Ti-6Al-4V workpiece. A stream of nitrogen gas is sprayed on the surface of the Ti-6Al-4V workpiece coaxially and simultaneously with the laser beam at a relatively high pressure, thus forming a barrier layer of TiCxN1-x, TiNx, Ti—C, and Ti2N compounds in the surface region.

Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for preparing a plastic containing feedstream for conversion to valuable carbon-containing products such as synthetic crude oil. In some systems and methods, the plastic material is prepared from carpet scrap.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for fabricating a mesoporous carbon material, the method comprising subjecting a precursor composition to a curing step followed by a carbonization step, the precursor composition comprising: (i) a templating component comprised of a block copolymer, (ii) a phenolic compound or material, (iii) a crosslinkable aldehyde component, and (iv) at least 0.5 M concentration of a strong acid having a pKa of or less than ?2, wherein said carbonization step comprises heating the precursor composition at a carbonizing temperature for sufficient time to convert the precursor composition to a mesoporous carbon material. The invention is also directed to a mesoporous carbon material having an improved thermal stability, preferably produced according to the above method.

Abstract: A method for preparing a carbon dioxide absorbent based on natural biomass, and a carbon dioxide absorbent based on natural biomass that is prepared by the method. The method utilizes alkali metal or alkaline earth metal components, such as Ca, Ma and K, inherent to a natural plant biomass material. The method can provide a carbon dioxide absorbent with improved performance in an environmentally friendly manner at greatly reduced cost.

Abstract: A carbon article having a first zone and a second zone wherein in the first zone formed from a first mix design and the second zone formed from a second mix design and the first and second mix designs have at least one difference selected from the group of differences of a presence of a certain material, a concentration of a certain material, the size of the a certain material and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for fabricating graphene ribbons which are high-functional carbon materials. Provided a method of fabricating graphene ribbons, including (a) preparing a graphene helix carbon structure which is formed by spiral growing of a unit graphene , and (b) applying energy to the carbon structure to obtain ribbon-shaped graphenes.

Abstract: In one example, a method includes defibrillating at least one carbon fiber to form a plurality of carbon fiber filaments, melting pitch to form molten pitch, and mixing the plurality of carbon fiber filaments and the molten pitch to form a substantially homogeneous mixture of carbon fiber filaments. In another example, a method includes mixing a plurality of carbon fiber filaments having a length between about 6.35 millimeters and about 50.8 millimeters in molten pitch to form a substantially homogeneous mixture of carbon fiber filaments within the molten pitch, wherein mixing the plurality of carbon fiber filaments does not substantially change an average length of the plurality of carbon fiber filaments.

Abstract: When a raw material graphite film bad in flatness is laminated onto another material, creases and other defects may be caused. In particular, when a graphite film having a large area is laminated, defects such as creases may be often caused. In order to solve such defects, a flatness correction treatment step is performed wherein a raw material graphite film is subjected to heat treatment up to 2000° C. or higher while a pressure is applied thereto. This flatness correction treatment gives a graphite film good in flatness. Furthermore, when the flatness of the raw material graphite film is corrected by use of a thermal expansion of a core, a graphite film small in sagging can be obtained.

Abstract: A method for producing a ceramic substance includes producing a homogeneous mixture containing carbon fibers having a fiber length distribution of D5=<15 ?m and at least one powdery and carbonizable binder. The homogeneous mixture is compacted under the action of pressure. The compacted homogeneous mixture is thermally treating for carbonizing, or for carbonizing and graphitizing, to obtain a carbon substance. The carbon substance is siliconized to obtain a ceramic substance.

Abstract: In an exemplary method, a nano-architectured carbon structure is fabricated by forming a unit (e.g., a film) of a liquid carbon-containing starting material and at least one dopant. A surface of the unit is nano-molded using a durable mold that is pre-formed with a pattern of nano-concavities corresponding to a desired pattern of nano-features to be formed by the mold on the surface of the unit. After nano-molding the surface of the unit, the first unit is stabilized to render the unit and its formed nano-structures capable of surviving downstream steps. The mold is removed from the first surface to form a nano-molded surface of a carbonization precursor. The precursor is carbonized in an inert-gas atmosphere at a suitable high temperature to form a corresponding nano-architectured carbon structure. A principal use of the nano-architectured carbon structure is a carbon electrode used in, e.g., Li-ion batteries, supercapacitors, and battery-supercapacitor hybrid devices.

Abstract: A method of making a carbon binder-reinforced carbon fiber composite is provided using carbonized asphaltenes as the carbon binder. Combinations of carbon fiber and asphaltenes are also provided, along with the resulting composites and articles of manufacture.

Abstract: A carbon foam article useful for, inter alia, composite tooling or other high temperature applications, which includes a carbon foam having a ratio of compressive strength to density of at least about 7000 psi/g/cc.

Abstract: A carbon monolith includes a robust carbon monolith characterized by a skeleton size of at least 100 nm, and a hierarchical pore structure having macropores and mesopores.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the production of a shaped composite material and the material obtained through that process. In particular it relates to a process for obtaining a disk of composite ceramic material for disc brakes in which the friction coefficient is varied by varying the composition of the surface layer.

Abstract: A graphite film showing an extremely low average tearing force is more likely to suffer from various kinds of defects, such as splitting, winding deviation, wrinkling, and poor dimensional accuracy, in a step of producing the graphite film and in a step of processing the graphite film. However, these defects can be prevented by using a graphite film that satisfies the following requirements: 1) having an average tearing force of not more than 0.08 N as determined by Trouser tear method in accordance with JIS K7128; and 2) having sag of not less than 5 mm and not greater than 80 mm as determined by a method of film windability evaluation in accordance with JIS C2151.

Abstract: Hierarchically porous graphitic carbon particles are prepared by an aerosol process using a aqueous solution of a carbon precursor compound in which different sized particles or clusters of silicon oxide species are dispersed. The aerosol is heated to evaporate the solvent. The solid residue is carbonized and non-carbon species removed to obtain small porous particles of graphitic carbon. The interconnected, different size pores in the small carbon particles make them very useful as electrode materials in electrochemical devices, such as supercapcitors, in which efficient ion transport through the pores or the particles is required.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of high strength air-dried organic aerogels. The method involves the sol-gel polymerization of organic gel precursors, such as resorcinol with formaldehyde (RF) in aqueous solvents with R/C ratios greater than about 1000 and R/F ratios less than about 1:2.1. Using a procedure analogous to the preparation of resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) aerogels, this approach generates wet gels that can be air dried at ambient temperatures and pressures. The method significantly reduces the time and/or energy required to produce a dried aerogel compared to conventional methods using either supercritical solvent extraction. The air dried gel exhibits typically less than 5% shrinkage.

Abstract: Provided is a flexible carbon fiber nonwoven fabric which has resistance to bending, is flexible, and exhibits excellent processability. Said flexible carbon fiber nonwoven fabric is obtained by carbonizing a nonwoven fabric obtained by electrospinning a composition containing: an electrospinnable polymer substance, such as polyacrylonitrile resins; an organic compound, which is different from said polymer substance, such as phenol resins; and a transition metal.

Abstract: A solar receiver for a solar thermal power system includes a silicon carbide body having a passage therethrough. A coating on an outer surface of the silicon carbide body may increase absorption of solar radiation relative to the silicon carbide body. A plurality of silicon carbide fins may extend outwardly from the silicon carbide body, the fins oriented such that when the receiver is placed on a tower of a solar thermal power system having a plurality of heliostats, the fins are substantially perpendicularly to solar radiation received on the silicon carbide body from the plurality of heliostats.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a carbon electrode having a high specific capacitance and method for forming an electrode. The electrode includes a graphitic carbon material having porous nanographene structures with edge-on topology to a plurality of formed pores, dispersed in an amorphous carbon matrix. The graphitic carbon material is formed by pyrolysis of phase separated block copolymers.

Abstract: A cured porous phenolic resin is provided that can be made by cross-linking a phenol-formaldehyde pre-polymer in the presence of a pore former, preferably ethylene glycol. The resin may be formed in situ by condensing a phenol with or without modifying agents and with cross-linking agent by pouring partially cross-linked resin into hot oil, in which case mesoporous resin beads are obtained. The resulting resin has mesopores observable in carbon derived from said resin by a pore structure of said derived carbon that comprises mesopores of diameter of 20-500 ?, as estimated by nitrogen adsorption porosimentry, the value for the differential of pore volume V with respect to the logarithm of pore radius R (dV/d log R) for the mesopores being greater than 0.2 for at least some values of pore size in the range 20-500 ?. Microporous beads of the resin may be carbonized into mesoporous carbon beads.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a solid wood section material and its manufacturing method. This invention is achieved by the following technical plans: a type of surface-reinforced solid wood product, including a compacted layer and a natural layer connected with fibre, has total density of between 350 and 750 kg/m3, moisture content between 5 and 12%, corrosion grade greater than II and weight loss less than or equal to 24%. This invention is particularly suitable to make floor boards.

Abstract: For a graphite sheet, a peak intensity ratio (P100/002) of a (100) diffraction peak and a (002) diffraction peak by X-ray diffractometry, and a peak intensity ratio (P110/002) of a (110) diffraction peak and a (002) diffraction peak thereby are set at 10 or more. The graphite sheet is manufactured through a step of preparing a polymer liquid which contains a polymer having carbon in its molecular chains and develops optical anisotropy, a step of unidirectionally orienting the molecular chains of the polymer, a step of obtaining a compact from the polymer liquid in the state that the orientation of the molecular chains of the polymer is maintained, and a step of carbonizing and thereafter graphitizing the compact.

Abstract: A porous carbon sheet obtained by binding separate carbon short fibers with a carbonization product of a resin, wherein the pore mode diameter of the sheet is 45 to 90 ?m and the mean fiber diameter of the carbon short fibers is 5 to 20 ?m. The sheet can be produced by thermoforming a precursor fiber sheet comprising carbon short fibers of 15 to 30 g/m2 in basis weight and a thermosetting resin of 30 to 80 g/m2 in basis weight by hot plates having a certain clearance and carbonizing the thermosetting resin contained in thermoformed precursor fiber sheet.

Abstract: A carbonaceous material, also referred to as a carbon alloy, and a process of making the carbonaceous material is provided. A particulate of partially pyrolyzed carbon (PPC) base is formed on heating a carbon-containing feed material and a nucleating agent in the form of a interactive filler is included. The nucleating agent is adhered together to the PPC particles by application of heat.

Abstract: The provision of a porous electrode substrate that has large sheet strength, low production costs, high handling properties, high thickness precision and surface smoothness, and sufficient gas permeability and electrical conductivity. A porous electrode substrate including a three-dimensional entangled structure including short carbon fibers (A) dispersed in a three-dimensional structure, joined together via three-dimensional mesh-like carbon fibers (B). A method for producing a porous electrode substrate, including a step (1) of producing a precursor sheet including short carbon fibers (A), and short carbon fiber precursors (b) and/or fibrillar carbon fiber precursors (b?) dispersed in a two-dimensional plane; a step (2) of subjecting the precursor sheet to entanglement treatment; and a step (3) of subjecting this sheet to carbonization treatment at 1000° C. or higher. It is preferable to include a step (4) of subjecting the sheet to hot press forming at lower than 200° C.

Abstract: Methods and compositions relate to manufacturing a carbonaceous article from particles that have pitch coatings. Heating the particles that are formed into a shape of the article carbonizes the pitch coatings. The particles interconnect with one another due to being formed into the shape of the article and are fixed together where the pitch coatings along adjoined ones of the particles contact one another and are carbonized to create the article.

Abstract: The invention provides a substrate suitable for cell culture observation and a method of observation using the same. Crystalline carbon such as a graphite powder is mixed into a thermosetting resin such as a furan resin, and the mixture is molded in the shape of a sheet and carbonized to produce a carbon substrate; then, a cell is made to adhere to the carbon substrate, and the cell is caused to proliferate on the carbon substrate and observed using a microscope.

Abstract: This invention provides a macroporous graphite electrode material that may be manufactured at a low temperature of 1500° C. or less and may be fast charged and discharged and a manufacturing method thereof. It also provides a lithium-ion secondary battery using this macroporous graphite electrode material. The macroporous graphite electrode material according to this invention is composed of graphite having macropores in which a ratio of specific surface area of micropores in relation to total specific surface area is not less than 0 and not more than 0.74 and a ratio of D band area and G band area in Raman spectrum (D/G area ratio) is not less than 0 and not more than 1.33.

Abstract: Provided are a process for economically preparing a graphene shell having a desired configuration which is applicable in various fields wherein in the process the thickness of the graphene she can be controlled, and a graphene shell prepared by the process.

Abstract: In an exemplary method, a nano-architectured carbon structure is fabricated by forming a unit (e.g., a film) of a liquid carbon-containing starting material. A surface of the unit is nano-molded using a durable mold (122) that is pre-formed with a pattern of nano-concavities corresponding to a desired pattern of nano-features to be formed by the mold on the surface of the unit. After nano-molding the surface of the unit, the first unit is stabilized to render the unit and its formed nano-structures capable of surviving downstream steps. The mold is removed from the first surface to form a nano-molded surface of a carbonization precursor (152). The precursor is carbonized in an inert-gas atmosphere at a suitable high temperature to form a corresponding nano-architectured carbon structure (62). A principal use of the nano-architectured carbon structure is a carbon electrode used in, e.g., Li-ion batteries, supercapacitors, and battery-supercapacitor hybrid devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a type of wood section material manufacturing method, especially with respect to soft wood section material and its manufacturing method. It belongs to wood processing field. This invention is achieved by the following technical plans: a type of wood section material manufacturing method includes the following steps: (1) wood preparation; (2) drying; (3) Polishing; (4) Hot pressing, which is to use two hot pressing boards with 140-200° C. to firmly press two surfaces of panel blank material; (5) Pre-carbonization, which pre-carbonize the panel blank material under 160° C. and 200° C.; (6) Carbonization, which carbonize the panel blank material between 200° C. and 225° C.; (7) Cooling; and (8) Moisture content control. This invention is particularly suitable to make wooden floor boards and office furniture.

Abstract: A gas diffusion substrate includes a non-woven network of carbon fibres, the carbon fibres are graphitised but the non-woven network has not been subjected to a graphitisation process. A mixture of graphitic particles and hydrophobic polymer is disposed within the network. The longest dimension of at least 90% of the graphitic particles is less than 100 ?m. A process for manufacturing gas diffusion substrates includes depositing a slurry of graphitised carbon fibres onto a porous bed forming a wet fibre network, preparing a suspension of graphitic particles and hydrophobic polymer, applying onto, and pulling the suspension into, the network, and drying and firing the network. Another process includes mixing a first slurry of graphitic particles and hydrophobic polymer with a second slurry of graphitised carbon fibres and liquid forming a third slurry, depositing the third slurry onto a porous bed forming a fibre-containing layer, and drying and firing the layer.

Abstract: A C/C composite material molded body and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The C/C composite material molded body includes carbon fibers, and a carbonaceous matrix. The C/C composite material molded body has a shell-like structure, an outer surface of which is configured by a three-dimensional curved surface or a combination of a plurality of surfaces, and which is configured by a continuous structure having a uniform composition as a whole. A longitudinal direction of the carbon fibers is oriented along the outer surface.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing high density boron carbide by pressureless sintering, enabling to create sintered products of complex shapes and high strength. The process comprises mixing raw boron carbide powder with carbon precursor, such as a polysaccharide, compacting the mixture to create an object of the desired shape, and finally carbonizing and sintering the object at higher temperatures.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a carbon-carbon brake disc uses a restraint fixture (12) that includes a preform retention region configured to limit contracting forces applied against a preform (10) in the preform retention region when the restraint fixture (12) thermally contracts. In one embodiment, the restraint fixture (12) comprises a band (12) having a first surface defining the preform retention region and a first expansion portion (26, 28, 29) adapted to deform upon application of a force to the band (12).

Abstract: Provided are a porous anode active material, a method of preparing the same, and an anode and a lithium battery employing the same. The porous anode active material includes fine particles of metallic substance capable of forming a lithium alloy; a crystalline carboneous substance; and a porous carboneous material coating and attaching to the fine particles of metallic substance and the crystalline carboneous substance, the porous anode active material having pores exhibiting a bimodal size distribution with two pore diameter peaks as measured by a Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) pore size distribution from a nitrogen adsorption. The porous anode active material has the pores having a bimodal size distribution, and thus may efficiently remove a stress occurring due to a difference of expansion between a carboneous material and a metallic active material during charging and discharging.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing a composition comprising 10 to 45% of the total solids weight lignin, polyacrylonitrile or a polyacrylonitrile copolymer, and a solvent to form a lignin-based polyacrylonitrile-containing dope and the resulting products. The dope can be processed to produce fibers, including precursor, oxidized and carbonized fibers. The oxidized fibers are of value for their flame resistant properties and carbonized fibers are suitable for use in applications requiring high strength fibers, or to be used to form composite materials.

Abstract: Carbon fibre-reinforced ceramic brake and clutch discs are manufactured by siliconising incompletely densified carbon-carbon fibre preforms produced by only a single chemical vapour infiltration step and then subjecting the siliconsised densified preform to a carbon impregnation step, e.g. by chemical vapour or liquid infiltration. The method substantially reduces processing times and costs compared to conventional chemical vapour infiltration processes, whilst yielding highly effective end products with optimised structural and frictional properties, particularly in terms of stability at high temperatures.

Abstract: Methods and articles providing for precise aligning, positioning, shaping, and linking of nanotubes and carbon nanotubes. An article comprising: a solid surface comprising at least two different surface regions including: a first surface region which comprises an outer boundary and which is adapted for carbon nanotube adsorption, and a second surface region which is adapted for preventing carbon nanotube adsorption, the second region forming an interface with the outer boundary of the first region, at least one carbon nanotube which is at least partially selectively adsorbed at the interface. The shape and size of the patterns on the surface and the length of the carbon nanotube can be controlled to provide for selective interfacial adsorption.

Abstract: A graphite material is provided wherein D50% is 2 to 9 ?m in particle diameter distribution based on volume as measured by laser diffraction, a specific surface area is 2 to 6 m2/g and no coating layer is substantially included in a surface of the particle. Also provided is a graphite material comprising substantially single-composition particles having an isotropic crystal structure, wherein D50% is 2 to 9 ?m in particle diameter distribution based on volume as measured by laser diffraction, and a specific surface area is 2 to 6 m2/g.

Abstract: This invention provides carbon composite materials, which comprise metal carbide particles, at least the particle surfaces or the entirety of which are metal carbides, synthesized in situ from a metal source, i.e., at least one member selected from the group comprising metal particles, metal oxide particles, and composite metal oxide particles, and a carbon source, i.e., a thermosetting resin, dispersed in a carbon, carbon fiber, or carbon/carbon fiber matrix, and contain no free metal particles. This invention also provides a method for producing such composite carbon materials, which enables the production of carbon composite materials having a high coefficient of friction, high thermostability, and abrasion resistance.

Abstract: A carbonaceous acoustic diaphragm whose density is reduced while retaining the required stiffness is provided. Carbon nanofibers and spherical particles of PMMA are mixed into a carbon-containing resin such as a polyvinyl chloride resin, and the mixture is carbonized to vaporize the spherical particles of PMMA, thereby forming a porous structure having pores with the carbon nanofibers in a powdered form uniformly dispersed through amorphous carbon. By forming a multilayer structure by combining the porous layer with a layer that does not use PMMA, the density can be further reduced while retaining the stiffness.

Abstract: Method for making carbon-carbon composite friction product, by: fabricating carbon fiber preform; heat-treating the carbon fiber preform; infiltrating the carbon fiber preform with a high carbon-yielding pitch using VPI (vacuum pressure infiltration) or resin transfer molding (RTM) processing; carbonizing the preform with an intermediate heat-treatment at 800-2000° C.; repeating the pitch infiltration and carbonization steps to achieve a final density of >1.75 g/cc; machining the surfaces of the preform; and applying an oxidation protection system. This approach overcomes problems inherent in lower density carbon-carbon composites by employing high carbon-yielding pitches to densify the carbon-carbon composites to a high density. The high carbon yielding pitches may include isotropic pitches, 100% anisotropic (mesophase) pitches, or mixtures of the two. They may be derived from petroleum, coal tar, or synthetic feedstocks.