A new structural model of glass-like carbon

The results of an experimental study of X-ray diffraction, diamagnetic susceptibility, thermoelectricity and electron emission are presented for glass-like carbons. They lead to a new model of glass-like carbon structure and its modification due to heat treatment. At the initial stage of pyrolysis the stacks of narrow graphite-like sheets are formed being surrounded by a chain-like matrix. The main factor determining such system behavior under heat treatment is mutual parallelism of layer borders and adjacent chains. The most important feature of the model is the destruction of chain-like fragments with simultaneous formation of interstitials above 2000°C. The proposed model is consistent with many other properties of the material.