Highly Oriented Graphite Product
A graphite article having enhanced directional thermal conductivity is provided. The mesophase portions of a mesophase pitch are aligned with each other to create an oriented mesophase pitch which may be stabilized. The article may subject to further carbonization and graphitization as needed.
1 . A process for manufacturing a graphite body comprising:
a. molding milled particles of mesophase pitch into a desired shaped article;
b. orienting the article; and
c. stabilizing the article.
2 . The process of claim 1 further comprising carbonizing the article during at least a portion of said orienting.
3 . The process of claim 1 wherein the orienting comprises magnetically orienting the article.
4 . The process of claim 3 further comprising providing relative rotation between the article and a magnetic field.
5 . The process of claim 1 wherein a size of the particles comprises no more than 20 mesh on an average.
6 . A process for manufacturing a graphite body comprising:
a. molding milled particles of mesophase pitch into a desired shaped article;
b. partially stabilizing the article;
c. orienting the article; and
d. stablizing the oriented article.
7 . The process of claim 6 further comprising carbonizing the article during at least a portion of said orienting.
8 . The process of claim 6 wherein the orienting comprises magnetically orienting the article.
9 . The process of claim 8 further comprising providing relative rotation between the article and a magnetic field.
10 . A process for manufacturing a graphite body comprising:
a. partially stabilizing mesophase pitch molding powder;
b. molding the powder into an article
c. orienting the article; and
d. stablizing the oriented article.
11 . The process of claim 10 further comprising carbonizing the article.
12 . The process of claim 11 further comprising orienting the article during said carbonizing.
13 . The method of claim 10 wherein said orienting comprises magnetically orienting the article.
14 . The process of claim 13 further comprising providing relative rotation between the article and a magnetic field.
15 . A method of making a graphite body comprising
a. casting mesophase pitch into a template, the template constructed from a sacrificial material in an approximate shape of the negative image of a desired graphite article, thereby forming a work piece.
b. orienting the work piece;
c. stabilizing the work piece;
d. carbonizing at least the stabilized and oriented mesophase pitch; and
e. removing the sacrificial material.
16 . The method of claim 15 wherein said carbonizing occurs prior to said removing.
17 . The method of claim 15 wherein said removing occurs prior to said carbonizing.
18 . A process of manufacturing a graphite body comprising:
a. impregnating a first body with mesophase pitch, thereby forming an impregnated body, the first body including at least one material selected from carbon, graphite, and combinations thereof;
b. orienting the pitch in the impregnated body; and
c. carbonizing the pitch in the impregnated body, thereby forming a densified body.
19 . The process of claim 18 further comprising stabilizing the impregnated body.
20 . The process of claim 19 wherein said orienting starts before said stabilizing.