Landmarks for graphitization

Abstract

The paper is divided in two parts. The first one recalls the necessary basis of ordered and disordered materials crystal-lography applied to carbons. The second part deals with the transformation of macromolecules (natural or industrial) to carbon and the eventual graphitization of the end-products. It is shown that the final ordering is entirely under the depend-ence of the elemental composition of the precursor through liquid crystals (Local Molecular Orientations: LMO' s) demixtion. The numerical parameter used is FLMO (atomic ratio of cross-linking atoms over hydrogen at the occurrence of liquid crystals precipitation). The end-products range progressively from non-graphitizing to graphitizing carbons as FLMO decreases from 0.3-0.5 to zero.