Microstructure of high thermal conductivity mesophase pitch-based carbon fibers

Abstract The microstructural characteristics of high thermal conductivity mesophase pitch-based carbon fibers were investigated by XRD, Raman spectroscopy, SEM and TEM. The relationship between microstructural characteristics and thermal conductivity is discussed. Results show that the radial structure is always accompanied by a splitting structure. La has more significant impact on the thermal conductivity than Lc. The Raman spectroscopy ID/IG value of the cross section was used as an essential index to evaluate the thermal conductivity of the carbon fibers. The microstructural characteristics including large graphite crystallite size, high preferred orientation along the fiber axis, and few defects contribute to the high thermal conductivity of the carbon fibers.