Preparation and properties of carbonaceous products prepared by the cracking of natural gas

Complete results are presented of tests recently carried out at the Grenoble Nuclear Research Centre in an attempt to transform natural gas (gas from Lacq), used as a source of pyrolytic carbon, into carbonaceous products with improved properties. Several methods have been studied: 1 - By using normal grade industrial graphite as support (density of about 1.50) products having densities of about 1.80 are obtained. Their open porosity (6 to 7 per cent) is lower than that of conventional graphites, and several of their characteristics are more or less equal to, or better than those obtained from a double impregnation witch pitch. 2 - The use as supporting material of the semi-products ('cooked') usually used for graphite production does not lead to satisfactory results. The main reasons for this are given. 3 - A new process, called 'BB5', has been developed. The starting materials here are powdered products (petrol coke or graphite) which are put into shape with the use of a binder which can be dispersed in water. The supports thus produced make it possible, because of their porous structure, to make the most of the densification produced by cracking natural gas below 1000 deg. C. The products obtained, which are made up of equal amounts approximately of the supporting material and of pyrocarbon can attain densities of over 1.90. Their very low open porosity can be reduced almost to zero and their impermeability is then excellent (k=10-8 cm2sec-1). They have also a remarkably high resistance to compression, values of 15 to 20 kg/mm2 being obtained for those carbons which have not undergone a final graphitization treatment. Some examples are given of possible nuclear applications of the materials produced in this manner. (authors)