The microstructure and morphology of carbon black: a study using small angle neutron scattering and contrast variation
- Los Alamos Neutron Scattering Center, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, 87545-1663 (United States)
- Sid Richardson Carbon Company, 4825 North Freeway, Fort Worth, Texas, 76106 (United States)
This is a study of the form and structure of particles and particle aggregates of an experimental high surface area carbon black (HSA) using small-angle neutron scattering and the method of contrast variation. Contrast variation was effected by studying suspensions of the carbon black in cyclohexane containing different fractions of deutero-cyclohexane. We find that the approximately 29 nm diameter HSA particles are arranged as small, linear aggregates with average aggregation number between 4 and 6. The structure averaged over the particle population is best represented by a prolate ellipsoid of revolution with semi axes 14.5 and 76.4 nm. The surface of the aggregates appears smooth over length scales larger than 1 nm, which places an upper limit on the surface roughness observed by other methods. The internal structure of the aggregates is described by a shell-core model, with the shell density being consistent with a graphitic structure and the core being of lower density, more like amorphous carbon. Some fraction of the core volume (0.1 to 0.2) is taken up by voids that are not accessible to the solvent. An estimate of the shell thickness gives 1 to 2 nm along the ellipsoid minor axis and 6 to 10 nm along the major axis. The particles of the aggregate appear to be fused so that the less dense amorphous core is continuous through the inner parts of the aggregate. The information that can be obtained on the internal structure using contrast variation is limited by heterogeneity in the chemical composition of carbon black aggregates.
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 6661417
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Materials Research; (United States), Vol. 9:12; ISSN 0884-2914
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
CARBON BLACK
MICROSTRUCTURE
MORPHOLOGY
AGGLOMERATION
CYCLOHEXANE
NEUTRON DIFFRACTION
PARTICLES
SMALL ANGLE SCATTERING
STRUCTURAL MODELS
SUSPENSIONS
ALKANES
CARBON
COHERENT SCATTERING
CYCLOALKANES
DIFFRACTION
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
HYDROCARBONS
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
SCATTERING
360602* - Other Materials- Structure & Phase Studies