The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 08, 1998
Filed:
Sep. 11, 1995
Robert L Alig, Dayton, OH (US);
David J Burton, Fairborn, OH (US);
Applied Sciences, Inc., Cedarville, OH (US);
Abstract
A method of producing vapor grown carbon fibers is provided in which coal is utilized as a source of an iron catalyst, as a source of hydrocarbon and sulfur, or both. The method includes the steps of introducing pulverized coal into a furnace containing a gas selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydrocarbon, nitrogen, ammonia, helium, or mixtures thereof, and maintaining the gas at a temperature from about 1000.degree.-1175.degree. C. to form the fibers. The coal has a sulfur content of from 1 to 6% by weight and may comprise high volatile bituminous coal. The use of coal to produce vapor grown carbon fibers provides a significant cost advantage over other starting materials and also provides an environmentally safe use for high sulfur content coal.