Densification of in situ prepared mesocarbon microbead/carbon nanotube composites by hot-press sintering

In situ prepared mesocarbon microbead/carbon nanotube(MCMB/CNT) composites are potential precursors of high density carbon materials for various applications. Integrated MCMB/CNT composites were successfully fabricated by hot-press sintering at 550 °C under 30 MPa. After further calcination at 900 °C, the hot-press sintering fabricated MCMB block has an apparent density of 1.77 g/cm3 and the open porosity 5.1%. With the addition of 5%(mass fraction) CNTs, the density of the composite block is elevated to 1.84 g/cm3, and its open porosity is reduced to 3.5%. The flexural strength of composite block with 5% CNTs is elevated to 116 MPa. Through the hot-press sintering, pores of 10–50 nm in the calcinated bulks are remarkably eliminated. The interstice between microbeads in the composite blocks is filled up by CNTs together with β-resin and quinoline-insoluble spheres, which can further contribute to the densification.