Abstract
Carbon has long been utilized as energy source and as shaped materials having the characteristic physical properties and chemical stability. Utilization as the former has so long history as that of humankind and has been occupied the greatest field in amount until now. Utilization as the latter began in earnest as the 19 th century, and achieved a remarkable development in our own century.
From the viewpoint of carbon technology, the development is thought to be classified in the following three currents ; (a) from char-coal to carbon fiber, (b) from carbon rods for battery to carbon materials for nuclear reactor and (c) from soot to biocarbon coated with pyrolytic carbon.
The above development make possible to control pretty well the micro-structure of carbon and the shape of products. Carbon will be utilized increasingly from now on not only as energy source but also as the indispensable new materials in the various fields of engineering.
