Carbon-black (CB) and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) were used together as a joint promoter to improve the quality of sintered mesocarbon products. The results show that, in addition to inhibiting the condensation of beta-resin at similar to 200 degrees C, GMA reduces the formation of volatile pyrolysis products during MCMB sintering at similar to 300-550 degrees C, while CB accelerates pyrolysis and lowers the temperature at which the evolution of volatile components begins. Our observations suggest that a cooperative effect, between CB and GMA, improves sintering behavior during sintered mesocarbon product manufacture, resulting in the formation of carbonized carbon blocks with high bending strengths (142 MPa) and high densities (1.87 g cm(-3)). (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.