X-ray Diffractions of Ground Graphites

Abstract

Bacon^1,2 and Boehm and Hofmann³ have examined ground graphite and discussed the broadening of diffraction lines and the enhancement of lines attributed to the rhombohedral modification. Though it would be desirable to examine the powders having homogeneous crystalline state, generally the sizes of particles and their sub-domains are distributed over rather wide ranges and the X-ray methods measure averaged quantities. I have carried out investigations with a similar objective, but by treating the ground graphite with a wet oxidizing reagent which selectively attacks the particles, thereby achieving partial sorting out. The oxidizing reagent was prepared by mixing 100 c.c. water, 50 c.c. sulphuric acid and 14 g of potassium bichromate.