Carbon Pellets Prepared from Self-Adhesive Properties of Pre-Carbonized Date Palm Leaves (Phoenix dactylifera L.): X-ray DiffractionAnalysis and Applications

Carbon pellets (CPs) were prepared from the self-adhesive properties of date palm leaves (Phoenix dactylifera L.) and converted into pellets by applying (5 to 21) metric tons of pressure, before being carbonized at 1000 °C in a nitrogen environment using a multi-stipe heating profile. Characterizations of CPs produced were carried out in terms of Young's modulus (YM) and crystallite dimensions, specific surface area, and porosity. A microscopic cross-linking model based on crystallite dimensions (d002, Lc, and La) was also used to estimate YM, spring length (Sp) between two cubic granulars of the carbon microstructure structure, specific surface area, and porosity as a class of X-ray diffraction application, by assuming that the changes in YM for carbon pellets as a function of compression occur similarly as a function of heat treatment temperature. Results of the X-ray diffraction pattern show that the structure of the CPs is turbostatic, and its crystallite dimensions are improved by compressive pressure. The estimated YM from a microscopic cross-linking model was in good agreement with that measured by ultrasonic techniques, showing that the behavior of the YM is related to the crystallite dimensions. The results also found that the degree of stiffness as a function of compression pressure is equal to that of heat treatment temperature, proving that the changes in YM as a function of compression pressure occur similarly as a function of heat treatment temperature. The results also show that the data of specific surface area and porosity, estimated from microscopic cross-linking, are in good agreement with the measured data. The Sp is reduced with increasing compression pressure, and above 12 metric tons of pressure the CP observed the stress broadening behavior. These results can conclude that the crystal dimensions can play an essential role in the phenotypic and description of CP pellets, indicating the applicability of the microscopic cross-linking model to estimate the physical properties of carbon materials.