Preparation of porous carbon composite with highly dispersed ultra fine metal compound from metal ion exchanged resin -Hardness and magnetic properties-

Porous carbon composites with highly dispersed ultrafine metal compounds (carbide, or nitride of Fe, Mo, W) were prepared by carbothermal reduction from metal ion exchanged resin. All the carbonized samples maintained their original spherical shape but their diameters shrunk to 60-80% of their initial sizes. Metal compounds in the carbonized sample were dispersed in the carbon matrix, and their particle diameters were 2-30nm. Some of the carbonized samples displayed a week needle trace or the trace gradually diminished within one minute during the vickers hardness measurement suggesting that the composite had elasticity. All the composites prepared from Fe³⁺ adsorbed chelate resin showed strong magnetic properties. Residual magnetization was confirmed only in the carbonized sample which was prepared by heating to 800°C in N₂ and cooled rapidly.