What Is Coal Tar Pitch?
Coal tar pitch is a substance derived from the fractional distillation of coal tar. It appears as a sticky, dark brown or black liquid with a strong aroma.
Coal tar pitch is recognized as a health risk and is classified as carcinogenic. In 2010, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded, based on epidemiological studies, that there is sufficient evidence that occupational exposure to coal tar pitch during road paving and roofing operations is carcinogenic to humans. Skin tumors, including skin cancer, have also been observed in experimental animals like mice. Due to this evidence, coal tar pitch is classified as Group 1 in the IARC’s carcinogenicity classification.
Uses of Coal Tar Pitch
Coal tar pitch is utilized as a carbon material, binder, waterproofing agent, and rust inhibitor. When subjected to dry distillation, coal tar pitch yields pitch coke, a black carbonaceous material that serves as the raw material for specialty carbon products. Pitch coke is used as an electrode material in aluminum refining, as a carburizer in electric steelmaking furnaces, and in the production of special carbon products for semiconductors.
Pitch coke is also blended with coking coal as a binder in the production of casting coke, which requires strength during heat generation.