Changes in the Structure of Carbon during Oxidation

Abstract

IT has previously been shown that, in the so-called amorphous carbons, a part of the carbon is organized in small graphite-like layers, and a part is in a form so disordered that it gives only a gas-like scattering of X-rays. Furthermore, of the graphite-like layers, some are stacked in small parallel groups with a characteristic interlayer spacing, while others are effectively single¹. Since cokes and other commercial carbons used in processes involving combustion have structures of this type, it is clearly of interest to determine which features of the structure of the carbon most influence its combustion properties. This communication summarizes the preliminary results of such an investigation.