Balloon-shaped graphitic-carbon material induced by shock-compression of dehydrochlorinated poly(vinylidene chloride)

Abstract

Shock-compression of dehydrochlorinated poly(vinylidene chloride) at 15 GPa and 6500 K produced a small portion of balloon-shaped graphitic-carbon material mixed with a large proportion of graphite and diamond. The size and thickness of the various balloon particles were ca. 40-300 nm and 4-6 nm, respectively. The balloon-shaped material is presumably a by-product from a carbon source fragmented under shock-compression and would not be related to the high yield of diamond.