USING STIMULUS TO CONVERT COAL TO MESOPHASE PITCH AND CARBON FIBERS
A method for forming mesophase pitch can include applying a stimulus to a first amount of coal tar to form a first amount of mesophase pitch. The stimulus can include one or more of an electromagnetic field (“EMF”) or a magnetic field. The method can further include evaluating a characteristic of the first amount of mesophase pitch, changing a parameter of the stimulus in response to evaluating the characteristic of the first amount of mesophase pitch, and applying the stimulus exhibiting the changed parameters to a second amount of coal tar to form mesophase pitch.
1 . A method for forming mesophase pitch, comprising:
continuously providing coal tar to a reactor;
heating the coal tar to a temperature of from about 100° C. to about 300° C.;
applying a stimulus to an amount of the coal tar, the stimulus comprising one or more of an electromagnetic field (“EMF”) or a magnetic field; and
continuously forming mesophase pitch from the coal tar.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising forming the amount of coal tar by at least one of:
reducing a particle size of an amount of coal to form coal powder;
sieving the coal powder;
pyrolyzing the amount of coal and extracting the amount of coal tar from the pyrolyzed coal; or
distilling the amount of coal tar to remove one or more contaminants therefrom.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the stimulus comprises the EMF.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the EMF has a wavelength of from about 1 mm to about 1 m.
5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the EMF comprises a pulsed EMF.
6 . The method of claim 3 , wherein applying the stimulus to the amount of coal tar comprises:
applying a first EMF to the amount of coal tar, the first EMF having a first property; and
applying a second EMF to the amount of coal tar, the second EMF having a second property that is different from the first property.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the stimulus comprises the magnetic field.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein applying the stimulus to the amount of coal tar comprises varying a magnetic field strength of the magnetic field.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the stimulus to the amount of coal tar comprises combining or mixing the coal tar with one or more catalysts or solvents.
10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
evaluating a characteristic of the amount of coal tar or the mesophase pitch; and
changing a parameter of the stimulus applied to the amount coal tar in response to evaluating the characteristic of the amount of coal tar or the mesophase pitch.
11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising forming the mesophase pitch into graphene, fullerene, diamond, or carbon fibers.
12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising air blowing the mesophase pitch.
13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising subjecting the mesophase pitch to a thermal process.
14 . A method for processing coal tar, comprising:
evaluating a characteristic of an amount of coal or an amount of coal tar formed from the amount of coal;
selecting one or more parameters of a stimulus in response to evaluating the characteristic;
heating the coal tar to a temperature of from about 100° C. to about 300° C.; and
applying a stimulus having the one or more parameters to the amount of coal tar to form mesophase pitch, the stimulus comprising one or more of an electromagnetic field (“EMF”) or a magnetic field.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein:
the stimulus comprises the EMF; and
selecting one or more parameters of the stimulus comprises selecting at least one of a wavelength, an intensity, or mode of the EMF.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the EMF has a wavelength of from about 1 mm to about 1 m.
17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein:
the stimulus comprises the magnetic field; and
selecting one or more parameters of the stimulus comprises selecting at least one of a magnetic field strength or mode of the magnetic field.
18 . A method for forming mesophase pitch, comprising:
applying a stimulus to a first amount of coal tar to form a first amount of mesophase pitch, the stimulus comprising one or more of an electromagnetic field (“EMF”) or a magnetic field;
evaluating a characteristic of the first amount of mesophase pitch;
heating the coal tar to a temperature of from about 100° C. to about 300° C.;
changing a parameter of the stimulus in response to evaluating the characteristic of the first amount of mesophase pitch; and
applying the stimulus exhibiting the changed parameters to a second amount of coal tar to form a second amount of mesophase pitch.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein:
the stimulus comprises the EMF; and
the parameter of the stimulus comprises at least one of a wavelength, an intensity, or mode of the EMF.
20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein:
the stimulus comprises a magnetic field; and
the parameter of the stimulus comprises at least one of a magnetic field strength or mode of the magnetic field.