This paper proposes the optimal molecular weight for a petroleum-based binder pitch to enhance the density and strength of the prepared graphite block. The effect of the molecular weight on the binder properties, which was quantified using solvent fractionation, was considered based on the evaluation of the coking and viscosity characteristics. The affinity of the pitch to coke influenced the carbonization yield of the block, and the proportion of closed pores was reduced via the use of a highaffinity binder pitch. In addition, the viscosity was found to influence the uniformity of the coke and pitch dispersions, and numerous open pores were formed in the graphite block under high-viscosity conditions. In terms of the molecular weight, a reduction in the content of the insoluble 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) fraction, which was the heaviest fraction present in the pitch, was found to reduce the affinity of the binder to coke while increasing its viscosity. Therefore, the density and strength of the prepared graphite block were reduced upon increasing the insoluble NMP content of the binder pitch. Consequently, it was necessary to control the content of this fraction within < 13.81 wt% to obtain high-density and high-strength graphite blocks.

Two kinds of mesocarbon microbeads (MCMBs) with different chemical composition have been synthesized. The MCMBs were molded and heat treated at temperatures above 2000 °C to obtain graphite blocks. The effects of chemical composition of MCMBs on the pore morphology, carbon texture and thermal properties of the derived graphite blocks have been explored. The pore morphology was investigated by small angle X-ray scattering technique and a graphitization-induced morphology transition was observed. When the graphitic crystallite size exceeded a threshold value, the association of crystallites and migration of randomly distributed pores took place extensively. For the graphite blocks made of MCMBs which had light components with higher aromaticity value, the growth of crystallites caused a significant enhancement in thermal conductivity for the specimens. However, for the other kind of MCMBs, their light components tended to form solid porous carbon texture after graphitization, and the thermal conductivity coefficients of their graphite blocks could only increase slightly as crystallites grew. It was suggested that the thermal resistance at the granule’s boundary became noticeable in the latter case and thus the growth of thermal conductivity coefficients was prominently hindered.