Thermogravimetric studies of surface properties of carbon blacks

摘要

The current work demonstrates the utility of high resolution thermo-gravimetry (HR TGA) to monitor changes in the surface properties of selected commercial carbon blacks treated under different conditions. TGA was used to evaluate thermal stability of the carbon blacks studied as well as their surface heterogeneity and hydrophobicity. Dry samples were studied by TGA in order to obtain information about their thermal stability and surface functionality. Samples exposed to vapors of organic liquids such as n-heptane and n-butanol were used to study the surface proprties. Thermogravimetric data were correlated with those obtained from nitrogen adsorption measurements, which were used to determine the specific surface areas and adsorption energy distributions of the carbons studied. It was shown tht thermogravimetric and adsorption measurements provide a profound insight into surface properties of carbon blacks, which appear to be sensitive to various pretreatment procedures.