• Carbon letters
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.78-85
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• 2015

Activated carbons (ACs) were prepared by activation of coal tar pitch (CTP) in the range of $700^{\circ}C-1000^{\circ}C$ for 1-4 h using potassium hydroxide (KOH) powder as the activation agent. The optimal activation conditions were determined to be a CTP/KOH ratio of 1:4, activation temperature of $900^{\circ}C$, and activation time of 3 h. The obtained ACs showed increased pore size distribution in the range of 1 to 2 nm and the highest specific capacitance of 122 F/g in a two-electrode system with an organic electrolyte, as measured by a charge-discharge method in the voltage range of 0-2.7 V. In order to improve the performance of the electric double-layer capacitor electrode, various mixtures of CTP and petroleum pitch (PP) were activated at the optimal activation conditions previously determined for CTP. Although the specific capacitance of AC electrodes prepared from CTP only and the mixtures of CTP and PP was not significantly different at a current density of 1 A/g, the AC electrodes from CTP and PP mixtures showed outstanding specific capacitance at higher current rates. In particular, CTP-PP61 (6:1 mixture) had the highest specific capacitance of 132 F/g, and the specific capacitance remained above 90% at a high current density of 3 A/g. It was found that the high specific capacitance could be attributed to the increased micro-pore volume of ACs with pore sizes from 1 to 2 nm, and the high power density could be attributed to the increased meso-pore volume.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.408-415
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• 2014

In order to prepare high-quality activated carbons (ACs), coal tar pitch (CTP), and mixtures of CTP and petroleum pitch (PP) were activated with KOH. The ACs prepared by activation of CTP in the range of $700{\sim}1000^{\circ}C$ for 1~5 h had very porous textures with large specific surface areas of $2470{\sim}3081m^2/g$. The optimal activation conditions of CTP were determined as CTP/KOH ratio of 1:4, activation temperature of $900^{\circ}C$, and activation time of 3 h. The obtained AC showed the highest micro-pore volume, and pretty high specific surface area and meso-pore volume. The micro-pore volumes and specific areas of activated mixtures of CTP and PP were similar to each other but the meso-pore volume could be increased. In order to change the degree of crystallinity of precursors before KOH activation process, the CTPs were carbonized in the range of $500{\sim}900^{\circ}C$. As the carbonization temperature increased, the specific surface area and pore volume of the activated ACs with the same activation conditions for CTP decreased dramatically. It was demonstrated that the increased pore size distribution of AC electrodes in the range of 1 to 2 nm plays an important role in the performance of electric double-layer capacitor.

• Carbon letters
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.173-180
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• 2005

In this study, AR (aromatic resin) pitch was employed as the matrix-precursor for carbon/carbon composite because it exhibits much higher coke yield than coal tar pitch. As a result, a fabrication process of carbon/carbon composites can be shortened. It has been known that the pitches may cause swolling problem during the carbonization process. In order to restrain the swelling occurrence, a small quantity of carbon black was added to the AR pitch. Due to addition of carbon black the swelling was decreased largely and the perform can be infiltrated with the AR pitch. The densification efficiency of the performs was compared with various matrix-precursors. The coke yield of matrixprecursors, the morphology and the degree of graphitization of carbon matrix were analyzed.

• Carbon letters
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.304-310
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• 2010

To manufacture a carbon/carbon composite the coal tar pitch was used as the matrix precursor and the PAN (polyacrylonitrile)-based carbon fiber was used as the reinforcing material to weave 3-directional preform. For pressure carbonization HIP equipment was used to produce a maximum temperature of $1000^{\circ}C$ and a maximum pressure of 100 MPa. The carbonization was induced by altering the dwell temperature between $250^{\circ}C$ and $420^{\circ}C$, which is an ideal temperature for the moderate growth of the mesophase nucleus that forms within the molten pitch during the pressure carbonization process. The application of high pressure during the carbonization process inhibits the mesophase growth and leads to the formation of spherical carbon particles that are approximately 30 nm in size. Most particles were spherical, but some particles were irregularly shaped. The spread of the carbon particles was larger on the surface of the carbon fiber than in the interior of the matrix pocket.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.4871-4876
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• 2014

Background: We sought to evaluate the role of tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) on the promotion of coal tar pitch extract (CTPE)-induced tumorigenesis of human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) and tumor metastasis in nude mice, and related mechanisms. Materials and Methods: BEAS-2B cells were first treated with 2.4 mg/mL CTPE for 72 hours. After removal of CTPE, the cells were continuously cultured and passaged using trypsin-EDTA. THP-1 cells were used as macrophage-like cells. BEAS-2B cells under different conditions (n=6/group) were injected into the back necks of nude mice, and alterations of tumor xenograft growth, indicative of tumorigenicity, and tumor metastasis were determined. Pathological changes (tumor nests and microvascular lesions) of HE-stained tumor tissues were also evaluated. The expression of AP-1(c-Jun) in xenografts and metastatic tumors was determined using immunohistochemistry. Results: Tumor size and weight in nude mice transplanted with the mixture of CTPE-induced passage 30 BEAS-2B and THP-1 cells (2:1) were increased compared to those from the CTPE-treated BEAS-2B cells at passage 30 alone at different observation time points. Tumor metastasis to lymph nodes and liver was only detected after transplantation of a mixture the two kinds of cells. The numbers of tumor nests and microvascular lesions, and the expression levels of AP-1 (c-Jun) in tumors from the mixture of two kinds of cells were increased apparently in contrast to those in tumor from the CTPE-treated BEAS-2B cells of passage 30 alone. In addition, there was positive correlation between AP-1 (c-Jun) expression level and the number of microvascular lesions, or between AP-1 (c-Jun) expression level and tumor metastasis in these two groups. Conclusions: TAMs not only facilitate tumorigenesis transformation of CTPE-induced BEAS-2B cells, but also promote tumor growth, angiogenesis and metastasis in nude mice in vivo, which may be mediated by AP-1.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1996.10a
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• pp.285-286
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• 1996

• The Korean Journal of Ceramics
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.240-244
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• 1998

The analytical method was developed to calculate efficiency of densifying carbon/carbon (C/C) composites using coal tar pitch as a matrix precursor at each cyle. Three factors were defined in analyzing the densification process: impregnation efficiency, retention efficiency, and overall densification efficiency. The relationships developed were applied to the experimental results for three densification cycles of C/C composites with pitches as an impregnant to evaluate the factors which may depend on the impregnant and on the route of carbonization. The impregnation efficiency increased with the repeated process cycles whereas the retention efficiency decreased irrespective of the impregnant and carbonization route. Carbonization route P+A+G, in which pressure carbonizationl (P) and graphitization (G) were done before after atmospheric pressure carboniztion (A) respectively, using impregnant of high carbon yields was the most effective method in densifying C/C composites.

• Carbon letters
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.62-67
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• 2004

Performance of carbon-carbon composites is known to be influenced by the fibre matrix interactions. The present investigation was undertaken to ascertain the development of microstructure in such composites when carbon fibres possessing different surface energies (T-300, HM-35, P120 and Dialed 1370) and pitch matrices with different characteristics (Coal tar pitch $SP110^{\circ}C$ and mesophase pitch $SP285^{\circ}C$) are used as precursor materials. These composites were subjected to two different heat treatment temperatures of $1000^{\circ}C$ and $2600^{\circ}C$. Quite interesting changes in the crystalline parameters as well as the matrix microstructure are observed and attempt has been made to correlate these observations with the fibre matrix interactions.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.415-420
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• 2016

To enhance electrochemical performances of anode materials, the surface of coal tar pitch (CTP) was modified by incorporating heteroatoms through chemical treatment with phosphoric acid ($H_3PO_4$). The prepared anode materials with modified CTP was analyzed by XRD, FE-SEM and XPS. The electrochemical performances of modified CTP were investigated by constant current charge/discharge test, rate performance, cyclic voltammetry and impedance tests using the electrolyte of $LiPF_6$ dissolved in the mixed organic solvents (ethylene carbonate : dimethyl carbonate = 1 : 1 vol% + vinylene carbonate 3 wt%). The coin cell using modified CTP ($H_3PO_4/CTP$ = 3 : 100 in weight) has better initial capacity and initial efficiency (489 mAh/g, 82%) than those of other composition coin cells. Also, it was found that the capacity retention was 86% after 30 cycles and the rate capability was 87% at 2 C/0.1 C.

• Carbon letters
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.13-16
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• 2002

The modification of coal-tar pitch has been carried out by heat treatment of pitch at different temperatures in the range ($300^{\circ}-400^{\circ}C$) for different times (2-5 hrs) in air and nitrogen. The pitch heat treated in air at lower temperature ($300^{\circ}C$) exhibit increase in softening point by $20^{\circ}C$ as compared to only $2^{\circ}C$ when treated in nitrogen. The changes are faster in air than in pure nitrogen. Pitch as such as well as after heat treatment were further treated with metal complexes by solution route. Silver intake has been found to increase from 0.5 to 0.8 % in nitrogen treated pitch while the uptake is found to decrease for pitches treated in air at $350^{\circ}C$ for 5 hrs. Experiments have also been made to incorporate silver into PAN and PAN-ox fibers through solution route. The metal intake has been found to be more in PAN-ox fibers than in PAN as such. Metal loaded carbon composites have been made by using metal loaded fibers as well as cokes. These composites as such exhibit higher surface oxygen complexes but decrease after activation.