GLASS-LIKE CARBON MADE FROM EPOXY RESIN CURED WITH 2,4,6-TRINITROPHENOL.

Abstract

It has been found that a glass-like carbon can be produced by the slow and carefully controlled pyrolysis of the epoxy resin (Epikote 828) cured with 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP) with a weight of 10-15%. The most characteristic property of the glass-like carbon was seen in its change in density with the heat-treatment temperature. Under heat treatment at temperatures up to 1000 degree C, a dense glass-like carbon of which density was 1. 65-1. 70 g/cm**3 was formed. The density of the glass-like carbon decreased, however, at heat-treatment temperatures above 1000 degree C. Upon heat treatment at the temperature of 3000 degree C, the density dropped to a low value of 1. 04-1. 11 g/cm**3. The former increase in density is connected with the large-scale dehydration reaction which may proceed between nitro groups and hydrocarbon chains in the cure resin. The latter decrease in density is caused by the progress of the graphitic orientation of carbon-layer planes in the cross-linked structure of the highest degree.