This book covers the many different forms and applications of carbon materials. Chapter 1 provides introductory content on carbon materials, namely the diamond family, the graphite family, and the fullerene family. All of these forms differ in structure, properties, applications, and fabrication methods.
The main body of the book (chapters 2–7) covers graphite, graphene, carbon black, activated carbon, carbon fibers, and carbon nanofibers (CNFs) and nanotubes. In chapter 2, graphite is described as the largest family and consists of graphite, turbostratic carbon, intercalated graphite, graphite oxide, exfoliated graphite, flexible graphite, graphene, activated carbon, carbon black, and carbon-carbon composites. Graphite is used in electrical and medical applications. Pyrolytic graphite has highly oriented layers of graphite in contrast to polycrystalline graphite. Magnetic and electrical properties are discussed along with different compounds and intercalation compounds.
Chapter 3 on graphene describes a single or small number of layers of three-dimensional graphite. The small size of graphene along with its excellent electronic, mechanical, and antimicrobial properties allows it to be used in many applications, such as sensor electrodes, biosensors, tissue engineering scaffolds, bioimaging agents, and drug delivery carriers. Activated carbon is a partially crystalline form of graphite consisting of amorphous carbon in the form of turbostratic carbon interconnecting graphitic regions.
Chapter 4 on carbon black talks about a low-cost material made by the incomplete combustion of heavy petroleum products. Carbon black is a compressible nanoparticle used as a thermal interface material to increase electrical conduction in batteries and supercapacitors, to improve the strength and abrasion resistance of rubber, and as a pigment for paints and inks.
Chapter 5 on activated carbon de-scribes a partially graphitic and amorphous material in which various surface treatments are used to increase the pore area and properties of the material. Water and air purification, carbon dioxide capture, electrochemical devices, and catalyst support are among the many uses of activated carbon.
Chapter 6 on carbon fibers covers the synthesis and application of continuous carbon microfibers with high strength, high elastic modulus, and low density that are mainly used as a reinforcement material in polymer composites. Carbon fibers are anisotropic and have high strength, electrical and thermal conductivity, and high modulus in the fiber axis compared to the transverse direction. The Boeing 787 aircraft contains approximately 77,000 pounds of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic. Carbon fiber composites are compared to composites made using other types of fibers in terms of specific strength and specific stiffness.
Chapter 7 on CNFs and nanotubes describes graphitic carbon tubes that have high strength and other important properties. CNFs and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can be formed into mats or yarn held together by van der Waals forces. CNTs can also be grown on carbon fibers, carbon black, graphene, alumina, silica fibers, exfoliated graphite, reduced graphene oxide, and metals. CNTs have high thermal conductivity, a high modulus of elasticity, and high tensile strength and find applications in many engineering fields.
The field of carbon materials is huge and often difficult to comprehend, but this book is easy to read and methodically covers the subject, including presenting materials properties and performance data with clear illustrations and graphs. References include relevant older and up-to-date sources of information. The book is tutorial style in nature and is an excellent resource for senior undergraduates, graduate students, researchers, and anyone who wants to learn more about carbon and incorporate carbon materials into new applications.
Reviewers: Anuptha Pujari and Mark Schulz, the University of Cincinnati Nanoworld Laboratories, USA.
