Use of hot buoyant liquid to convert pitch to continuous carbon filament

Claim 1

A process for producing continuous carbon filaments comprising: a. forming at least one stream of molten carbon forming pitch wherein resulting formed molten pitch is in contact with a liquid selected from a group consisting of a blend of molten inorganic salts and molten inorganic oxide; b. passing the formed molten pitch stream generally vertically upward through the liquid which is maintained within a temperature range wherein the pitch forms a continuous stream; c. continuing the generally vertically upward passage of the stream of formed molten pitch through a second liquid layer maintained between a temperature of about 450°-700° C and wherein the second liquid layer is in direct contact with the first liquid layer and both layers are composed of the same material and upon leaving the second liquid layer the pitch's hydrogen content is substantially reduced; and d. after the formed pitch leaves the second liquid layer it enters an inert atmosphere maintained at a temperature in excess of about 900°-1000° C and upon leaving the inert atmosphere the previously formed pitch stream is a carbon filament.