Pore morphology changes and quantitative analysis and evaluation of high‐rank coal samples after impact

Abstract

Abstract The influencing mechanism of impact loads on the pore morphology of high‐rank coal has been extensively investigated since mining safety is greatly determined by the ensuing state of gas occurrence. In this work, we propose a combined use of a scanning electron microscope and Image Pro Plus software to examine the impact‐induced changes in pore characteristics. Impact loads of 0, 28.46, 51.8, and 58.7 MPa were applied to the coal samples in various directions (parallel/vertical/45° oblique). The results show that the pore connectivity of coal samples is enhanced following the impact load, and the number and diameter of pores are significantly increased on the whole. Surface porosity and roundness of the coal body first rise and then fall as the impact load increases. Following the impact load, surface porosity and roundness of the coal body significantly increase in the vertical and oblique bedding directions, while decreasing in the horizontal bedding direction.

Keywords

• coalbed methane
• Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy
• high‐rank coal
• impact load
• SEM