Carbonization and graphitization of shavings filed away from Kapton Original Research Article

Two kinds of shavings with different degrees of defect concentration were filed away from Kapton with 50 μm in thickness using two sheets of diamond paper with different diamond particle size. Kapton is known as a starting material for preparation of well-crystallized graphite film. The shavings were carbonized and their graphitization behaviors were investigated by X-ray diffraction and Raman microprobe measurements. The carbonized shavings heat-treated at 3000 °C show lower graphitizability than that of the carbonized Kapton film heat-treated at 3000 °C. Existence of turbostratic structure in the 3000 °C-treated shavings was verified by X-ray diffraction. The results of the Raman microprobe on the 3000 °C-treated shavings indicated inhomogeneous graphitization proceeded during heat treatment. The graphitization degree of the 3000 °C-treated shavings has been found to depend on the average size of the diamond particles of the diamond paper used.