https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.N04095
The commonly used term for a special type of @C01142@ with extremely high graphitizability resulting from a strong preferred parallel orientation of its turbostratic layer structure and a particular physical shape of the grains.
Note:
Needle @C01142@ is derived mainly from clean (i.e. lacking hetero atoms and solids) and highly aromatic (i.e. several condensed rings per @CT06769@) feedstocks with a very low concentration of insolubles. Upon @S05733@ a material with a distinctive streaked or flow-like macroscopic appearance is produced. Upon grinding the @C01142@ breaks up first into macroscopic needles and then, after further grinding, into microplatelets. Sometimes the word 'acicular' is used as a synonym for needle-like.
Needle @C01142@ is derived mainly from clean (i.e. lacking hetero atoms and solids) and highly aromatic (i.e. several condensed rings per @CT06769@) feedstocks with a very low concentration of insolubles. Upon @S05733@ a material with a distinctive streaked or flow-like macroscopic appearance is produced. Upon grinding the @C01142@ breaks up first into macroscopic needles and then, after further grinding, into microplatelets. Sometimes the word 'acicular' is used as a synonym for needle-like.