useful carbon foams because of their higher quinolineinsoluble (QI) fraction. The carbon foams with homoge-neous open pores and microscopic domains were obtainedfrom AR pitch and petroleum mesophase pitch. Carbonfoams prepared from AR pitch exhibited a smaller averagepore diameter (212 lm), thinner cell walls, a narrower porediameter distribution (180–300 lm), higher open-cell ratio,and better ligaments compared with those from the otherpitches. It is concluded that a precursor with low molecularweight, narrow molecular weight distribution, and low QIcontent is favorable for the preparation of carbon foams.

[New Carbon Materials 2007;22(1):75–9]

doi:10.1016/j.carbon.2007.03.015

Preparation and dispersion of shelled carbon nanoshellsHua-qing Xie

Department of Environmental Engineering, Shanghai Second

Polytechnic University, Shanghai 201209, China

Carbon nanoshells (CNSs) were produced by CO2 laserirradiated pyrolysis of C2H2 in a continuous process. Hydro-philic functional groups were introduced onto the surface ofthe CNSs by treatment with a mixture of boiling nitric andhydrochloric acids to improve their dispersive characteris-tics. TEM, XRD, FTIR, and zeta potential analysis wereused to characterize the CNSs and the treated CNSs. Resultsshowed that oxygen-containing functional groups wereformed on the surface of the treated CNSs, which enhancedtheir dispersibility in water. The layer structure of the CNSsremained unchanged after the acid treatment.

[New Carbon Materials 2007;22(1):80–3]

doi:10.1016/j.carbon.2007.03.016

Synthesis of onion-like fullerenes by arc discharge in liquid

benzene

Wen Liu a, Yong-zhen Yang a, Yan Zhang a, Xu-guangLiu b, Xiao-min Wang a, Bing-she Xu a

a College of Materials Science and Engineering, Taiyuan

University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, Chinab College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Taiyuan

University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China

Onion-like fullerenes (OLFs) were synthesized by arcdischarge in benzene using graphite electrodes. The effectof experimental parameters on the morphologies and struc-tures of the OLFs was investigated by HRTEM and XRD.Results show that electric current is the main factor and thediameters of the OLFs can be controlled in the rangebetween 10 and 30 nm.

[New Carbon Materials 2007;22(1):84–7]

doi:10.1016/j.carbon.2007.03.017

Effects of the air oxidation of carbon fibers on the properties

of 3D braided carbon/resin composites

Yu-guo Wang a, Guang-shun Wu b

a School of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University,

Tianjin 300072, Chinab Tianjin Internal-Combustion Engine Research Institute,

Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China

A three-dimensionally braided carbon fiber reinforcedcarbon/epoxy resin (C/Ep) composite was prepared by vac-uum impregnation, and the effect of air oxidation of thefibers on the properties of the composite were investigatedby SEM, nitrogen adsorption and mechanical testing.Results show that the specific surface area and surfaceroughness of the oxidized carbon fibers increase while theirtensile strength decreases with increasing oxidation temper-ature or time. The flexural strength, flexural modulus, andshear strength of the C/Ep composites under the optimumtreatment at 450 �C for 1 h were increased by 149%, 91%and 29%, respectively compared with the untreated sam-ples, but the impact strength was decreased by 23%.

[New Carbon Materials 2007;22(1):88–91]

doi:10.1016/j.carbon.2007.03.018

Laser induced damage for diamond films

Jie-cai Han, Wei Gao, Jia-qi Zhu

Center for Composite Materials and Structure, Harbin

Institute of Technology, Harbin 150080, China

The outstanding optical and mechanical properties ofdiamond films are summarized. Laser damage for films irra-diated with different wave lengths and pulse width arereviewed and the laser damage mechanism analyzed for dif-ferent parameters. It is found that graphitization inducedinstability of the crystal lattice is the main reason for laserinduced damage. There are two ways that lead to graphitizeddamage on the surface of diamond films under long andshort laser pulses. For nanosecond or longer laser pulses, graph-itization propagates vertically into the bulk of the diamondfilms. For femtosecond laser pulses, graphitization occurson the surface of the diamond films layer by layer. Based onthe physical properties and preparation technology, practicaland promising applications of diamond films are proposed.

[New Carbon Materials 2007;22(1):92–6]

doi:10.1016/j.carbon.2007.03.019

1380 Abstracts / Carbon 45 (2007) 1376–1380