Homologous Bio‐Tar and Bio‐Tar Pitch as Co‐Carbonization Agents in the Preparation of Mesophase Pitch

ABSTRACT The present work systematically compares the performance differences between two novel homologous materials employed as co‐carbonization agents in the synthesis of mesophase pitch. Low‐cost FCC slurry was used as the raw material, with bio‐tar (BT) and bio‐tar pitch (BTP) as co‐carbonization agents. The mesophase pitch was prepared by the co‐carbonization method. The products and formation mechanism of the mesophase pitch were analyzed. The properties and structures of the mesophase pitch were characterized and analyzed using a polarizing microscope, softening point, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, XRD, and Raman spectroscopy. The results showed the optimal reaction conditions for systems FCC‐BT‐MMP and FCC‐BTP‐MMP, such as temperature, time, pressure, and reactant ratio. By introducing aliphatic components and other groups through the addition of BT or BTP in the reaction system, the fluidity, optical texture, ordering, and molecular preferential orientation of the product are improved. The results indicate that in the FCC‐BT‐MMP system, the optimal conditions are a temperature of 410°C, a reaction time of 6 h, a pressure of 0.6 MPa, and a BT ratio of 15%, under which the corresponding product exhibits the best comprehensive performance. In the FCC‐BTP‐MMP system, the optimal conditions are a reaction temperature of 420°C, a reaction time of 7 h, a pressure of 0.6 MPa, and a BTP content of 20%, under which the corresponding product also shows the best comprehensive performance.