Microstructure, elastic, and inelastic properties of biomorphic carbons carbonized using a Fe-containing catalyst

Abstract

The microstructure and amplitude dependences of the Young’s modulus E and internal friction (logarithmic decrement δ), and microplastic properties of biocarbon matrices BE-C(Fe) obtained by beech tree carbonization at temperatures Tcarb = 850–1600°C in the presence of an iron-containing catalyst are studied. By X-ray diffraction analysis and transmission electron microscopy, it is shown that the use of Fe-catalyst during carbonization with Tcarb ≥ 1000°C leads to the appearance of a bulk graphite phase in the form of nanoscale bulk graphite inclusions in a quasi-amorphous matrix, whose volume fraction and size increase with Tcarb. The correlation of the obtained dependences E(Тcarb) and δ(Tcarb) with microstructure evolution with increasing Тcarb is revealed. It is found that E is mainly defined by a crystalline phase fraction in the amorphous matrix, i.e., a nanocrystalline phase at Тcarb < 1150°C and a bulk graphite phase at Tcarb > 1300°C. Maximum values E = 10–12 GPa are achieved for samples with Тcarb ≈ 1150 and 1600°C. It is shown that the microplasticity manifest itself only in biocarbons with Tcarb ≥ 1300°C (upon reaching a significant volume of the graphite phase); in this case, the conditional microyield stress decreases with increasing total volume of introduced mesoporosity (free surface area).