The molecular constituents of the liquid phase which occurs during the carbonization of graphitizing materials

A mass spectrométrie study, using an AEI MS9, is made of the liquid phase produced on carbonising single organic materials. An objective is to elucidate the condensation reactions which precede the formation of solid carbon. The pyrolysis of acenaphthylene, 9,9'-bifluorylidene, anthracene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, chrysene and pyrene is reported. Possible condensation reactions are discussed in terms of known hydrocarbon radicals. Molecules with mass numbers in excess of 700 are found