Carbon spring and process for preparing the same

Claim 2

A carbon spring prepared by a process, comprising: shaping an organic linear material, the organic constituent of which is selected from the group consisting of a thermoplastic resin, a thermosetting resin, a pitch, a natural high molecular weight substance, a synthetic high molecular weight substance containing a condensed polycyclic aromatic base structure which is high in carbon yield and mixtures thereof, into the form of a coiled spring; and then carbonizing the spring shaped organic linear material.

Claim 3

The carbon spring of claim 1, wherein said pitch is petroleum asphalt, coal tar pitch, cracked naphtha pitch or a carbonized material of a hydrocarbon compound of petroleum asphalt, coal tar pitch or a synthetic resin.

Claim 4

The carbon spring of claim 1, wherein said natural organic high molecular weight substance is lignin, cellulose, tragacanth gum, gum arabi, natural rubber or humic acid and derivatives thereof.

Claim 5

The carbon spring of claim 1, wherein said synthetic high molecular weight substance is a formalin condensate of naphthalene sulfonic acid, dinitronaphthalene or indanthrene vat dyes derived from pyrene, pyranthrone, violanthrone, benzanthrone or intermediates thereof.

Claim 6

The carbon spring of claim 1, wherein said thermoplastic resin is polyvinyl chloride, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, ethyl cellulose, polyvinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyacrylonitrile-styrene copolymer, polyacrylonitrile-vinyl chloride copolymer, polyamide, carboxymethylcellulose, polyphenylene oxide, polyparaxylene, polysulfone, polyimide, polyamideimide, polyester imide, polybenzimidazole or polyoxadiazole.

Claim 7

The carbon spring of claim 1, wherein said thermosetting resin is a phenol resin, an epoxy resin, a xylene resin, an alkyd resin or an unsaturated polyester resin.

Claim 8

The carbon spring of claim 1, wherein said organic linear material is further composed of carbon fibers, graphite whiskers, or crystalline graphite powder as a reinforcing material.

Claim 9

The carbon spring of claim 7, wherein said reinforcing material comprises 20 to 80% by weight of the organic linear material.

Claim 10

A process for fabricating a coiled carbon spring, which comprises: shaping an organic linear material, the organic constituent of which is selected from the group consisting of a thermoplastic resin, a thermosetting resin, a pitch, a natural high molecular weight substance, a synthetic high molecular weight substance containing a condensed polycyclic aromatic base structure which is high in carbon yield and mixtures thereof, into the form of a coiled spring; and then carbonizing the spring shaped organic linear material.

Claim 11

A process for fabricating a coiled carbon spring, which comprises: shaping an organic linear material, the organic constituent of which is selected from the group consisting of a thermoplastic resin, a thermosetting resin, a pitch, a natural high molecular weight substance, a synthetic high molecular weight substance containing a condensed polycyclic aromatic base structure which is high in carbon yield and mixtures thereof, into the form of a coiled spring; and then carbonizing the spring shaped organic linear material.

Claim 12

The process of claim 9, wherein said carbonization step comprises heating said shaped organic linear material to a temperature of 500° to 1500° C. in an inert atmosphere.

Claim 13

The process of claim 10, wherein said carbonized organic linear material is further heated to a temperature of 2000° to 3000° C. in an inert atmosphere to further complete the carbonization process.

Claim 14

The process of claim 9, wherein after shaping said organic linear material into the shape of a coiled spring, the organic linear material is heated to a temperature of 50° to 300° C. in an active or inert atmosphere prior to carbonization.

Claim 15

The process of claim 9, wherein said organic linear material is cured by a crosslinking reaction after said organic linear material is shaped, but before carbonization of said organic linear material.