Insight into the structural variation mechanism of highly spinnable isotropic pitch prepared by halogenated model aromatic compounds

This study developed a novel method for synthesis highly spinnable pitch through thermal polymerization of halogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH-X) and anthracene oil (AO). The characteristics, average molecular model, and polymerization mechanism of the as-prepared pitches were systematically elucidated. Results show that the thermal cleavage of C-X bonds of the PAHs-X could generate large number of free radicals that greatly facilitate the cross-linking reaction of the active fragments. Namely, the formation of benzyl radicals with high reactivity of the raw materials made it possible to synthesize pitches at lower temperature. The softening point of the as-prepared pitches showed a decreasing trend with increasing of AO proportion due to the abundant carbon content and lower reactivity of AO. Higher temperature could elevate the polymerization activity of aromatic fragments, thus significantly promoted the formation of macromolecular aromatic structures to obtain the spinnable pitch with suitable softening point. The average models validated by calculating the NMR spectra was successfully constructed to demonstrate the condensation degree, which was found be conducive to probe the spinnability of the pitches. Further, the average molecular models could well describe the correlation of the molecular structure, spinnability of pitches, as well as the mechanical properties of carbon fiber. [Display omitted] •The excellent spinnability pitches were prepared by PAHs-X and AO.•The polymerization degree mainly depends on the interaction of AO and PAHs.•Average molecular could describe the correlation of structure and spinnability.•The cleavage of C-X bonds facilitates the cross-linking reaction.