Abstract
Several kinds of pitch-based carbon fibers were prepared from various mesophase pitches derived from naphthalene, petroleum and coal with a single filament spinning apparatus. The relationships between the dependence of Young's modulus of carbon fibers on spinning viscosity and average molecular structural parameters of mesophase pitches were examined. Aromaticity and compactness factor of pitch were found to be closely related to the dependence of Young's modulus of carbon fibers on spinning viscostiy. The experimental results suggest that the control of average molecular structure of mesophase pitch, as well as bulk properties such as viscosity, is required in order to prepare the precursors for carbon fiber manufacturing.
