Preparation and characterization of dense graphite/glassy carbon composite coating for sealing application

Glassy carbon (GC), characterized by a homogeneous structure and glass-like fracture surface once broken, has attracted increasing attention because of its excellent performance. In this paper, a dense graphite/glassy carbon composite coating with low gas permeability was introduced. In this composite coating, small graphite particles acting as second phase were wrapped by glassy carbon matrix. The composite coatings with different mass fractions of graphite particles were prepared. The mass loss of phenolic resin was determined by TG (thermogravimetry) analysis to determine the pyrolysis process. Raman spectrum analysis indicates that graphite content in composite coatings affected the G/D ratio significantly. The permeability of composite coatings with 50% and 100% graphite particles was almost same, which was ranged from 6 × 10−13 m3 · µm/m2 · s · Pa to 3 × 10−13 m3 · µm/m2 · s · Pa within the differential pressure from 100 kPa to 70 kPa. While the composite coating with 150% graphite particles had higher gas permeability due to the tiny micro-cracks and micro-pores produced. What was more, the densification mechanism of graphite/glassy carbon composite coating was also discussed in detail.