Paper Title
Development of Carbon Nanoparticles by Catalytic Graphitization of Modified Phenolic Resin with Chromium (III) Acetylacetonate

Abstract
The aim of the work is to study the effect ofCr(C5H7O2)3 as a promoter to accelerate the graphitization of phenolic resins for developing thermally stable carbon nanoparticles. Chromium complex as a catalyst was laboratory prepared. Two types of matrix precursors were used in the present study; the non-modified and modified phenolic resins. Modified resin is prepared through a chemical reaction of resin with inorganic chromium complex. Graphitization has been successfully achieved in a vacuum atmosphere at temperature not exceeding 1400°C. The effects of Cr(C5H7O2)3 on the degree of graphitization of nanoparticles carbon were investigated by XRD, FTIR., TG, TGA., and DTG. The infra-redresultsshowed that the Cr(C5H7O2)3 complex exhibited an intense band at 3400 cm–1 related to stretching vibration of (OH), and the hydrogen of the hydroxyl replaced by metal ions at (287.4-354 cm–1), related to (M–O). On the other hand, the chromium acetylacetonates form adducts with polymers containing functional groups such as phenols, the metal ion is saturate and giving covalent characteristics. X-ray analysis showed the Cr(C5H7O2)3 complex promoted the formation of more perfect crystallites, which related to graphitic and turbostratic structures (T&G- components), this is due to the degree of graphitization of carbon nanoparticles yield of the modified resins. Thus, the catalyst's action is to accelerate the graphitization process and reduce its degree to 1400°C compared to that needed by random carbon in the conventional process of about 2800°C. The results of TG and TGA indicate that the thermal degradation of the modified resin is lower than the unmodified resin, this is due to the presence of thermally stable carbon nanoparticles within the carbon structure. Keywords - Carbon Nanoparticles, Catalytic Graphitization, Degree of Graphitization, Vacuum Heat Treatment