Mesophase pitches, carbon fiber precursors, and carbonized fibers
A process is described for the production of a stabilized carbon fiber which process comprises: forming a film having a thickness in the range of about 0.025 mm (0.001 in) to about 2.5 mm (0.1 in), of a catalytic pitch; maintaining said film at a temperature in the range of about 327 C to about 427 C and a pressure in the range of about 20 microns of mercury to about 1 atm for a time that is sufficient to produce a heavy isotropic pitch having a softening point in the range of about 127 C to about 288 C, a coking value in the range of about 55 wt % to about 95 wt %, and a maximum mesophase content of 5 vol %; agitating said heavy isotropic pitch while passing an inert gas through said heavy isotropic pitch at a rate of up to about 30 SCFH/1b at a temperature in the range of about 327 C to about 454 C for a time that is sufficient to provide a mesophase pitch having a vol. % of mesophase of at least 60; converting said mesophase pitch into green fibers; and stabilizing for a minimum time ranging from about 14 to about 288 minutes said green fibers with an oxidizing agent while heating said green fibers to a starting temperature of about 41 C to 221 C that is below the glass transition temperature of the mesophase pitch, and thereafter increasing the temperature of said green fiber at a rate of between about 1 C/min and 6 C/min to a final temperature in the range of about 282 C to 343 C to provide a stabilized carbon fiber.
- Assignee:
- Ashland OR, Inc., KY (United States)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 5238672; A
- Application Number:
- PPN: US 7-369442
- OSTI ID:
- 6300868
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 20 Jun 1989
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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