Cross-linked carbon products and their preparation

Claim 1

IN A METHOD OF STRENGTHENING CARBONIZED ORGANIC MATERIAL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF CARBONIZABLE FILAMENTS AND PRODUCTS CONSISTING OF WOVEN, NONWOVEN OR FELTED CARBONIZABLE FILAMENTS WITHOUT SACRIFICING THE FLEXIBILITY OF SAID MATERIAL BY EMBRITTLING THE RESULTING PRODUCT, SAID METHOD INCLUDING CARBONIZATION OF SAID ORGANIC MATERIAL BY HEATING SAID MATERIAL TO A TEMPERATURE AND IN AN ATMOSPHERE SUCH THAT THE NON-CARBONACEOUS CONSTITUENTS PRESENT ARE DISTILLED OFF FROM SAID CARBONIZABLE MATERIAL WHILE SAID CARBONIZABLE MATERIAL IS SUPPORTED IN A MANNER SUCH THAT THE PHYSICAL SHAPE AND ORDERED STRUCTURE OF THE ORIGINAL MATERIAL ARE RETAINED; AND THEREAFTER STRENGTHENING SAID RESULTING CARBONIZED PRODUCT BY CARBIDING SAID MATERIAL; THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH CONSISTS IN CONVERTING ONLY UP TO 25 MOL PERCENT OF SAID CARBONIZED PRODUCT TO CARBIDE OF AT LEAST ONE ELEMENT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF CARBIDE FORMING ELEMENTS HAVING AN ATOMIC RADIUS NOT APPRECIABLY LARGER THAN 0.77 ANGSTROM UNITS, BY HEATING SAID CARBONIZED MATERIAL TO A TEMPERATURE IN EXCESS OF 1050*C. IN AN ATMOSPHERE CONTAINING AS VAPOR A COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF HALIDES AND CARBONYLS OF SAID CARBIDE FORMING ELEMENT WHICH WOULD REACT WITH SAID CARBONIZED MATERIAL UNDER THE CONDITIONS PREVAILING DURING SAID CONVERSION TO CARBIDE; AND CONTINUING SAID CONVERSION FOR A TIME SUFFICIENT FOR UP TO ABOUT 25 MOL PERCENT OF SAID ELEMENT TO INTRUDE INTO THE ORDERED CARBONIZED PRODUCT AND TO CROSS-LINK THE SAME.