Preparation of pitch based carbon fibers using Hyper-coal as a raw material

A cost-effective method for producing an isotropic pitch-based carbon fiber using the 1-methylnaphthalene (MN) soluble fraction of Hyper-coal (HPC) was newly developed. The extent of MN fractionation was controlled by altering the fractionation temperatures. The MN soluble fraction obtained from HPC at 60 °C had excellent spinnability after the removal of volatile matter by thin layer evaporation. Additionally, the fiber that was subsequently derived from the MN soluble fraction had satisfactory mechanical properties with an averaged tensile strength of 1150 MPa after heating to 800 °C for 5 min.