Carbon products derived from lignin/carbon residue

Abstract

A precursor having at least five percent of lignin based coke and d 002 spacing of more than 3.36 angstroms and less 3.44 for making graphite. Methods for making a green/graphite article include mixing coke derived from a petroleum product, a coal product or a bitumen product with coke derived from lignin. Alternatively, the precursor material for the various types of coke may be mixed and coked together. The mixture may be formed into a desired shape. The article may be subsequently carbonized and graphitized. The amount of lignin derived coke comprises a sufficient quantity to change at least a selected property of the graphite article.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of making a green article comprising:
 a. mixing a first amount of coke precursor material derived from a petroleum product with a second amount of coke precursor material derived from lignin, thereby forming a precursor mixture;   b. coking the precursor mixture thereby forming coke; and   c. forming the coke into a desired orientation   whereby the second amount of coke precursor comprises a sufficient quantity to change at least one selected property of a final article formed to obtain the desired set of properties in the final article as compared to a second final article made from the coke precursor material derived from the petroleum product.   
     
     
         2 . The method of the  claim 1  wherein the second amount of coke precursor material derived from lignin comprises by weight at least 0.01 percent to less than 50 percent of a total amount precursor material used to make the coke. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first amount of coke precursor material derived from the petroleum product comprises at least one of decant oil, decant oil based pitch, petroleum pitch and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the petroleum product comprises decant oil and the first amount of coke comprises needle coke. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the selected property includes the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the selected property includes the d 002  spacing between layered planes within the graphite article. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the selected property includes the char weight of the graphite article. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the selected property includes the modified Conradson carbon (MCC) of the graphite article. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the selected property includes coke yield. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the selected property includes at least one of bulk density of the graphite article, specific resistance of the graphite article and real density of the graphite article. 
     
     
         11 . A graphite article made by the method of  claim 1 , wherein the graphite article has a volume of at least 1 cubic centimeter formed from a precursor including at least five percent by weight of lignin based coke and the graphite article has d 002  spacing of more than 3.36 angstroms and less 3.44. 
     
     
         12 . A graphite article made by the method of  claim 1 , wherein the graphite article exhibits a 2θ angle between 26° and 2.7°. 
     
     
         13 . A graphite article made by e method of  claim 1 , wherein the graphite article has a CTE of at least 0.26 ppm/° C. 
     
     
         14 . The graphite of  claim 13 , wherein the graphite article has a CTE of at least 1.59 ppm/° C. 
     
     
         15 . A method of making a green article comprising:
 a. mixing a first amount of coke precursor material derived from a carbon residue having a carbon content of at least 70 percent with a second amount of coke precursor material derived from lignin, thereby forming a precursor mixture;   b. coking the precursor mixture thereby forming coke; and   c. forming the coke into a desired orientation,   whereby the second amount of coke precursor comprises a sufficient quantity to change selected properties of a final article formed to obtain the desired set of properties in the final article as compared to a second final article made from the coke precursor material having the carbon content of at least 70 percent.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the carbon residue comprises a petroleum product. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the second amount of coke precursor material derived from lignin comprises by weight at least 0.01 percent to less than 50 percent of a total amount of precursor material used to make the coke. 
     
     
         18 . A monolithic graphite article having a volume of at least 1 cubic centimeter formed from a precursor including at least five percent by weight of lignin based coke and d 002  spacing of more than 3.36 angstroms and less 3.44. 
     
     
         19 . The graphite article of  claim 18 , wherein the graphite article exhibits a 2θ angle between 26° and 27°. 
     
     
         20 . The graphite article of  claim 18 , wherein the graphite article has a CTE of at least 0.26 ppm/° C.