Mesophase formation investigation in pitches by NMR relaxometry

Carbonaceous pitches are used as raw materials in advanced carbon products. This work aims at combining solvent extraction methodology with low field nuclear magnetic resonance relaxometry technique in order to characterize heated-treated samples of petroleum pitches. The T-1 relaxation times showed two distinct domains: one was referring to the aromatic region and the other one was attributed to mesophase. The results also evidenced that the H-1 NMR relaxometry could be used as a new tool for the characterization of this kind of system.