Properties and microstructure of expandable graphite particles pulverized with an ultra-high-speed mixer

The expandable graphite (EG) particles were pulverized to achieve different and smaller sizes using an ultra-high-speed mixer. The microstructure of particles was observed by a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The as-received EG particles showed an irregular flake shape. With the increase of the mixing time, the EG particles tended to be circular and the collapses and cracks in the EG surfaces appeared, and their average diameter and average area rapidly reduced. At the same time, their expansion volume after thermal treatment greatly decreased, resulting from the reduction of particle sizes and the direct release of the oxidant inside the EG particles instead of exfoliating the particles. The expanded EG particles revealed the typical wormlike structure. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.