Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 March 2011
X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and neutron scattering were used to characterize structure of carbon blacks. Different grades, N990, N774, N299, N134, and N110, untreated, after heat treatment and compressed at 2.5 GPa have been investigated. The average sizes of the crystallites obtained by X-ray diffraction agree with those estimated from Raman spectra. The distribution functions of crystallite sizes were evaluated from X-ray diffraction using the recently developed method. Heat treatment results in increased vertical and lateral sizes of graphitic crystallites. Postproduction pressure treatment has little effect on the average sizes of the crystallites, however, it affects the crystallite size distribution function. The magnitude of strain within the crystallites is affected by applied pressure. The relative concentration of amorphous carbon blacks estimated from Raman spectra decreases with increasing temperature but not with increased pressure. It is suggested that the initial growth is associated with alignment of the existing graphitic planes and later by incorporating aromatic carbon into the crystallites.