Macromolecular Structure of Coals. I. The Organic Phase of Bituminous Coals as a Macromolecular Network†

The organic phase of bituminous coals may be represented as a three-dimensional macromolecular network, with chains consisting of aromatic or heterocyclic clusters and smaller connecting bonds, usually of etheric, sulfidicor methylenic nature. The crosslinks are covalently bonded bridges or hydrogen-bonded structures. The molecular weight between crosslinks, [Mbar]C, and other parameters of the crosslinked structure can be calculated using the results of various experiments and applying theories widely used for the analysis of polymeric networks, albeit with significant modifications.