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US4039341A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Production of carbon articles

Assignee: National Research Development Corp UK
•
Filing: 1973-08-16
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Granted: 1977-08-02
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Expires: 1993-08-16
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Abstract

Abstract A process for the production of a carbon article is provided by which a synthetic organic fibre which is capable of conversion to high strength, high modulus carbon fibre and which has been partially so converted is impregnated with a synthetic organic resin and the resin/fibre impregnate subject to a carbonization treatment in an inert atmosphere at a temperature of at least 1000° C. Preferably the fibre is polyacrylonitrile which has been heated at a temperature of 200° to 250° C in an oxidizing atmosphere. The resin may be a phenol/formaldehyde resin, a polyvinylidene chloride resin or a polyfurfuryl alcohol resin. The process is particularly suited to the production of carbon articles in the form of fibre or rod by drawing the fibre first through the resin to impregnate it and then through a die to form the resin/fibre impregnate.

Inventors

  • 👤 George Anthony Cooper
  • 👤 Rayner Michael Mayer
  • 👤 William Watt

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 01:28
CPC Classifications
D; D01; D01F; D01F11/00; D01F11/10; D01F11/14; C; C01; C01B; C01B32/00; C04; C04B; C04B35/00; C04B35/71; C04B35/78; C04B35/80; C04B35/83; D01F11/12; D01F11/125; D01F9/00; D01F9/08; D01F9/12; D01F9/14; D01F9/20; D01F9/21; D01F9/22; D01F9/24; D01F9/245; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2982; Y10T428/2991; Y10T428/2993

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 106 words
A process for producing a carbon-fiber-reinforced carbon body, which comprises: first producing a composite body having a matrix of carbonizable cured resin in which fibers that are made from synthetic organic fibers by subjecting such fibers to a first heat treatment up to a first temperature in an oxidizing atmosphere while substantially preventing the fibers from shrinking longitudinally during that heat treatment, are incorporated, and then subjecting the said composite body to carbonizing heat treatment up to a second, higher temperature in the absence of oxygen to convert the resin of the matrix into carbonaceous material and carbonize the fibers that are incorporated in said matrix.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 106 words
A process for producing a carbon-fiber-reinforced carbon body, which comprises: first producing a composite body having a matrix of carbonizable cured resin in which fibers that are made from synthetic organic fibers by subjecting such fibers to a first heat treatment up to a first temperature in an oxidizing atmosphere while substantially preventing the fibers from shrinking longitudinally during that heat treatment, are incorporated, and then subjecting the said composite body to carbonizing heat treatment up to a second, higher temperature in the absence of oxygen to convert the resin of the matrix into carbonaceous material and carbonize the fibers that are incorporated in said matrix.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 188 words
A process for the production of a carbon article in the form of a fibre or rod which includes the steps of (1) passing a continuous tow of polyacrylonitrile fibre which has previously been subjected to a heat treatment in an oxidising atmosphere at a temperature in the range 200° to 250° C. while being at least substantially restrained from shrinking, through a liquid resin selected from the group consisting of phenol/formaldehyde resins, polyvinylidene chloride resin and polyfurfuryl alcohol resin to impregnate the oxidized fibre with the said resin, (2) drawing the resin/fibre impregnate through a die to form it into a fibre or rod shape, (3) passing the said formed impregnate through a furnace to cure said resin and (4) subjecting the cured resin/oxidized fibre impregnate to carbonisation at a temperature of at least about 1000° C. to carbonize the oxidized resin and fiber, the tendency of the carbon article to crack being reduced by a reduction in the relative shrinkage between the oxidized fiber and resin impregnate as compared with the shrinkage that would result during carbonization of the resin impregnate relative to a carbonized fiber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 188 words
A process for the production of a carbon article in the form of a fibre or rod which includes the steps of (1) passing a continuous tow of polyacrylonitrile fibre which has previously been subjected to a heat treatment in an oxidising atmosphere at a temperature in the range 200° to 250° C. while being at least substantially restrained from shrinking, through a liquid resin selected from the group consisting of phenol/formaldehyde resins, polyvinylidene chloride resin and polyfurfuryl alcohol resin to impregnate the oxidized fibre with the said resin, (2) drawing the resin/fibre impregnate through a die to form it into a fibre or rod shape, (3) passing the said formed impregnate through a furnace to cure said resin and (4) subjecting the cured resin/oxidized fibre impregnate to carbonisation at a temperature of at least about 1000° C. to carbonize the oxidized resin and fiber, the tendency of the carbon article to crack being reduced by a reduction in the relative shrinkage between the oxidized fiber and resin impregnate as compared with the shrinkage that would result during carbonization of the resin impregnate relative to a carbonized fiber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 25 words
A process as claimed in claim 2, wherein the resin is a phenol/formaldehyde resin and is cured by passing through a furnace at 200° C.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 25 words
A process as claimed in claim 2, wherein the resin is a phenol/formaldehyde resin and the die has a diameter of 100 to 500 microns.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 149 words
A process for the production of a carbon article having a reduced tendency to crack which includes the steps of: 1. impregnating with a carbonizable synthetic organic resin polyacrylonitrile fiber which is capable of being carbonized, the said polyacrylonitrile fiber having been previously subjected to an oxidizing heat treatment at a temperature of about 200° to 250° C. in an oxidizing atmosphere while the fiber is at least substantially restrained from shrinkage; 2. curing the synthetic organic resin; and 3. heating the cured synthetic organic resin/oxidized fiber impregnate at a temperature of at least about 1000° C. to carbonize the resin and the oxidized fiber, the tendency of the carbon article to crack being reduced by a reduction in the relative shrinkage between the oxidized fiber and the resin impregnate as compared with the shrinkage that would result during carbonization of the resin impregnate relative to a carbonized fiber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 149 words
A process for the production of a carbon article having a reduced tendency to crack which includes the steps of: 1. impregnating with a carbonizable synthetic organic resin polyacrylonitrile fiber which is capable of being carbonized, the said polyacrylonitrile fiber having been previously subjected to an oxidizing heat treatment at a temperature of about 200° to 250° C. in an oxidizing atmosphere while the fiber is at least substantially restrained from shrinkage; 2. curing the synthetic organic resin; and 3. heating the cured synthetic organic resin/oxidized fiber impregnate at a temperature of at least about 1000° C. to carbonize the resin and the oxidized fiber, the tendency of the carbon article to crack being reduced by a reduction in the relative shrinkage between the oxidized fiber and the resin impregnate as compared with the shrinkage that would result during carbonization of the resin impregnate relative to a carbonized fiber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 29 words
A process as claimed in claim 5 wherein the carbonizable synthetic organic resin is selected from the group consisting of phenol/formaldehyde resin, polyvinylidene chloride resin and polyfurfuryl alcohol resin.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 17 words
A process as claimed in claim 5 wherein the carbonizable synthetic organic resin includes finely divided carbon.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 15 words
A process as claimed in claim 5 wherein the polyacrylonitrile fiber includes finely divided carbon.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 160 words
A process for the production of a carbon article in the form of a fiber or rod which includes the steps of (1) impregnating with a carbonizable synthetic organic resin a continuous tow of polyacrylonitrile fiber which has previously been subjected to heat treatment at a temperature of about 200 to 250° C. in an oxidizing atmosphere while the said polyacrylonitrile fiber is at least substantially restrained from shrinking, (2) forming the said synthetic organic resin/oxidized fiber impregnate into a fiber or rod, (3) curing the synthetic organic resin, and (4) subjecting the synthetic organic resin/oxidized fiber impregnate to carbonization at a temperature of at least about 1000° C. to carbonize the fiber and the oxidized resin, the tendency of the carbon article to crack being reduced by a reduction in the relative shrinkage between the oxidized fiber and resin impregnate as compared with the shrinkage that would result during carbonization of the resin impregnate relative to a carbonized fiber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 160 words
A process for the production of a carbon article in the form of a fiber or rod which includes the steps of (1) impregnating with a carbonizable synthetic organic resin a continuous tow of polyacrylonitrile fiber which has previously been subjected to heat treatment at a temperature of about 200 to 250° C. in an oxidizing atmosphere while the said polyacrylonitrile fiber is at least substantially restrained from shrinking, (2) forming the said synthetic organic resin/oxidized fiber impregnate into a fiber or rod, (3) curing the synthetic organic resin, and (4) subjecting the synthetic organic resin/oxidized fiber impregnate to carbonization at a temperature of at least about 1000° C. to carbonize the fiber and the oxidized resin, the tendency of the carbon article to crack being reduced by a reduction in the relative shrinkage between the oxidized fiber and resin impregnate as compared with the shrinkage that would result during carbonization of the resin impregnate relative to a carbonized fiber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 28 words
A process as claimed in claim 9 wherein the synthetic organic resin is selected from the group consisting of phenol/formaldehyde resin, polyvinylidene chloride resin and polyfurfuryl alcohol resin.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 26 words
A process as claimed in claim 9 wherein the carbonizable synthetic organic resin/fiber impregnate is formed into a fiber or rod by drawing through a die.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 21 words
A process as claimed in claim 11 wherein the die has a diameter of about 25 microns to about 1 mm.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2721820A Cited
US3367812A Cited
US3541582A Cited
US3579401A Cited
US3790393A Cited
US3720575A Cited
US3728423A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1980-08-01 1981-01-31 1981-08-02 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1984-08-01 1985-01-31 1985-08-02 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1988-08-01 1989-01-31 1989-08-02 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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