MODIFICATION OF MESOPHASE FORMATION DURING THE CARBONIZATION OF ACENAPHTHYLENE BY THE ADDITION OF ACENAPHTHENE

The carbonization of acenaphthylene was affected by the addition of acenaphthene, which is the dihydride derivative of acenaphthylene. The addition of 10 to 20 wt% acenaphthene promoted the formation of the spherical mesophase compared with acenaphthylene alone in the heat-treatment temperature region of 500 to 540-degrees-C. Further addition of acenaphthene (30-40 wt%) reduced the mesophase formation and resulted in isotropic materials. The role of added aceaphthene in the carbonization of acenaphthylene was assessed employing spectroscopic measurements such as FT-IR, X-ray diffraction, FD mass spectrometer, and ESR, in addition to solvent separation and elemental analysis.