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Pyrolysis of Graphite (Carbon)
Pyrolysis is the process of burning at high temperatures without the presence of oxygen. A material that undergoes this chemical process is transformed into a new substance with different properties than its original components. One of the most common materials used in pyrolysis is carbon, which has the potential to be manipulated and changed into new materials with more desirable properties for industrial, commercial and even medical purposes.
The primary purpose of the pyrolysis of carbon is to create an activated form of the material. The activation process breaks the individual atoms present in the material, allowing for the addition of other elements and much easier manipulation. This activation process is necessary for further processing and transformation into more usable materials like carbon nanotubes, which have a wide range of industrial applications, or graphite oxide, which is used in the creation of materials that are strong and lightweight.
In order to complete the pyrolysis of carbon, heat is applied to the material in an environment that is free of oxygen. Once temperatures reach above 1,200 degrees Celsius, the structures of the carbon atoms break, bonding with oxygen atoms, creating a variety of chemical compounds. Without oxygen which is the catalyst for the reaction, the carbon bonds and reforms into solid structures that still contain the same basic chemical structure and properties, but in a much more usable form.
The resulting form of the material can be used in a multitude of applications, such as the production of nanotubes and whiskers, for efficient and powerful batteries and for more medical purposes. In one instance, the pyrolysis of carbon can be used to create graphite particles with a 90-degree orientation that are perfect for healing wounds faster and more efficiently.
Ultimately, pyrolysis of carbon is immensely valuable for a variety of reasons. This process has the potential to create new and improved materials that are stronger, lighter and more efficient. The manipulation of carbon takes place at some of the highest temperatures available, pushing the material to its limits and opening up a whole new world of possibilities. With these enhanced materials, applications across many industries are now much more advanced than they have ever been before.
