Ashland Oil, Inc.

Motorcarbon LLC

John W Newman

Frank H Turrill

Clifford Ward

William R Sawran

Norman W Hall

William P Hettinger, Jr

Robert H Wombles

Roy E Booth

Joseph W Hager

Nicholas Johannes

Charles D Hoertz, Jr

Eugene Chao

Producing of near net shape carbon (optionally carbon--carbon composite) pistons and other artifacts by sintering (with or without carbon fibers, preferably pitch-based carbon fibers and most preferably blends of vapor grown carbon fibers(VGCF)) homogeneous powders derived from petroleum pitch. The powders preferably exhibit properties equal to or exceeding those of POCO AXF-5Q. Preferred specific technical steps are substantially as follows:

Carbon artifacts and compositions and processes for their manufacture

Disclosed herein is an improved pitch for making readily stabilizable, substantially nonmesophasic carbon fibers. The pitch has a softening point of about 250.degree. C. (480.degree. F.) or above and is produced from an unoxidized thermal petroleum pitch by selectively reducing or eliminating a portion of the low molecular weight materials in a very short period of time so that the tendency to produce mesophase pitch is eliminated or reduced and so that the chemical integrity of the components of the higher molecular weight fractions is preserved as much as possible. Also disclosed is a method of producing carbon fibers therefrom and rovings or mats from such fibers.

Process for the manufacture of carbon fibers and feedstock therefor

Disclosed herein is an improved pitch for making readily stabilizable, substantially nonmesophasic carbon fibers. The pitch has a softening point of about 250.degree. C.(480.degree. F.) or above and is produced from an unoxidized thermal petroleum pitch by selectively reducing or eliminating a portion of the low molecular weight materials in a very short period of time so that the tendency to produce mesophase pitch is eliminated or reduced and so that the chemical integrity of the components of the higher molecular weight fractions is preserved as much as possible. Also disclosed is a method of producing carbon fibers therefrom and rovings or mats from such fibers.

Process for the manufacture of carbon fibers

Graphite products particularly suited for use in nuclear reactors are prepared by combining thermal petroleum pitch and particulated coke made from the same pitch into a moldable composition. The composition is molded into a desired shape. The shape is baked, impregnated with additional pitch, baked further, and then heated to temperatures sufficient to graphitize it. For nuclear applications a petroleum pitch low in sulfur content is preferred.

Method for preparing graphite articles

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Ashland, KY, United States of America

John W Newman