In collaboration with Morgan advanced materials, this ICP-Royce funded project, awarded £116,025 has allowed for the exploration of the use of wood tar biopitch (WTB) as a sustainable replacement for coal tar pitch (CTP), a ‘sunset’ material under REACH guidelines.
CTP is a residue formed from the distillation of coal tar and is widely used as a carbonisable/graphitisable binder for many industrial applications. CTP, though, is fossil-derived and toxic, and has recently been classified as a ‘sunset’ status material under REACH. In addition, increasing environmental regulations are currently raising concerns about its long-term availability and supply. Thus, it is vital to identify sustainable alternatives that can replace CTP.
During this project, we produced Wood Tar Biopitch (WTB) from distilling sawdust, mixed it with graphite particles and then carbonising and graphitizing them to produce carbon-carbon composites. We investigated the improvement of their microstructure and levels of graphitization during carbonisation/graphitization by refining the composites’ chemical formulations, which led to improved electrical and mechanical properties.
The Henry Royce Institute was the only place worldwide where meaningful results could be delivered in such a short time, since it builds upon the unique combination of people, equipment and academic-Morgan collaboration. Royce facilities such as electron microscopy, microCT, tribology testing, custom spark tester, and Raman spectrometers were essential in understanding the WTB production, formulation, pyrolysis and resultant properties. This project has helped accelerate the replacement of a sunset fossil derived chemical with a bioderived chemical with reduced toxicity, contributing towards a UK sustainable net-zero future by 2050. It has aided UK industry in this transition through both providing a deeper understanding of the underlying materials chemistry of WTB and establishing a Royce-based WTB source.
"This project has helped accelerate the replacement of a sunset fossil derived chemical (Coal Tar Pitch), which is used throughout the foundation industries as a carbonisable/graphitizable binder, with a bioderived chemical with reduced toxicity (Wood Tar Biopitch) through both providing a deeper understanding of the underlying materials chemistry of WTB and establishing a WTB source, making strong contribution towards a UK sustainable net-zero future by 2050."
Dr Cristina Valles
Morgan Advanced Materials Research Fellow, Department of Materials, National Graphene Institute and Henry Royce Institute (University of Manchester)
