X-ray studies of some carbonized coals

Abstract

This paper describes the results obtained from an X-ray examination of the carbonization products of certain vitrain coals after treatment at temperatures up to 1000 degrees C. The methods employed in interpreting the X-ray data include a least-squares technique developed for the purpose of obtaining distributions of layer-sizes, and a Fourier transform technique developed by Hirsch (1954) to obtain distributions of the numbers of layers stacked parallel to one another. The importance of a number of secondary effects is examined, and the results are discussed in the light of these considerations.