Rheological Characterization of Pitch and Binder Matrix with Different Concentrations of Fine Particles

Abstract

Green anodes consist of coarse coke particles surrounded by a binder matrix, which is a viscoelastic material and is made of fine coke particles and coal-tar pitch. During the compaction process, the coarse particles rearrange while the binder matrix plastically deforms and reduces the overall porosity of the coarse particles. The rheological properties of the binder matrix are among the most important parameters that affects the final quality of the anode with respect to the anode paste recipe, the interaction of the binder matrix with the coarse particles and operational conditions. Different parameters such as particle size distribution of fine particles, concentration of fine particles and forming temperature are governing the rheological properties of the binder matrix. This paper is an extension of a previous work investigating the rheological properties of the binder matrix with fine coke particle concentrations up to 15 %. Here, the effects of higher fine particle concentrations are considered to simulate real conditions and improve the understanding of the viscoelastic behaviour of the binder matrix.