Wood-Derived Tar as a Carbon Binder Precursor for Carbon and Graphite Technology

In addition to the many benefits of coal tar pitch, these materials are known to contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. For this reason, studies are being developed to elaborate new, ecologically friendly, alternative binders for carbon–graphite technology. This article presents the results of wood tar recovered during thermal degradation of selected types of woods as alternative binders in the manufacture of carbon materials. Two kinds of wood tars obtained from different raw materials were analyzed. Sawdust thermal conversion makes it possible to obtain carbon binders with a lower coking value and quinoline-insoluble matters in comparison to coal tar pitch. These binders produce significantly reduced emissions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in carbon–graphite technology. Carbon samples manufactured using wood-derived binders with carbon fillers showed similar density and mechanical compression strength values compared to those based on conventional coal tar pitch binders.