Synthesis and Characterization of Pyrolytic Graphite from Heat-treated Polyimide

High-temperature heat treatment of polyimide (Kapton) film yielded a highly oriented graphite film, composed of nearly ideal thin graphite layers with 6 ˜ 7nm in thickness. The graphite films assumed various characteristic forms in appearance depending on heat-treatment. The graphite films containing minute vesicles within the film were obtained starting from a thick polyimide film, which yielded a flexible graphite sheet with excellent physical and mechanical properties compared with commercialized, expanded graphite sheets.