Hard carbons or carbon glassy, are obtained from carbonization of pre-cursors such as thermosetting polymers (for example, phenol formaldehyde resins, furfuryl H alcohol and divinylbenzene styrene copolymer), cellulose, charcoal and coconut shell. Hard carbon is used in the production of carbon electrodes. Commercially, carbon electrodes are made from petroleum coke and graphite and pitch that serves as a binder by heating them to high temperature (Heintz, 1985). Carbon electrodes are widely used in the electronic, chemical and metallurgical. Carbonization of lignocellulosic materials results in hard carbons with low electrical resistivity and good electrochemical properties, hence, forming useful pre-cursor for the preparation of carbon electrical components such as batteries, carbon brushes, electrodes, fuel cells and capacitors (Marsh et al., 1997). Research in producing carbon glassy from oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) was started in 2000 with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). Various attempts in activation were carried out to enhance the physical and mechanical properties ofthe carbon glassy (Mohamad et al., 2000). The final achievement was to use acid which increased the density, hardness, Young’s modulus, as well as the electrical conductivity of the carbon glassy (Astimar et al., 2004; 2005). Blending with metal powder, depending on their specification requested, can enhance their electrical conductivity.

Main Research: Astimar Abdul Aziz