Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A reformed mesophase pitch obtained by heat-treating a dormant mesophase pitch which comprises dormant anisotropic components until a continuous phase of anisotropic domains is formed; said dormant anisotropic components being partially hydrogenated, polycyclic polycondensed ring aromatic hydrocarbons derived from the mesophase of a mesophase pitch by hydrogenation of said mesophase and being soluble, in quinoline, and said dormant mesophase pitch being optically isotropic in nature but, upon being subjected to shear forces in one direction, capable of being oriented in said direction, and said reformed mesophase pitch having a mesophase content MC of between 40 and 100% and a quinoline-insoluble content QI of between 5 and 70 weight %.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
A reformed mesophase pitch obtained by heat-treating a dormant mesophase pitch which comprises dormant anisotropic components until a continuous phase of anisotropic domains is formed; said dormant anisotropic components being partially hydrogenated, polycyclic polycondensed ring aromatic hydrocarbons derived from the mesophase of a mesophase pitch by hydrogenation of said mesophase and being soluble, in quinoline, and said dormant mesophase pitch being optically isotropic in nature but, upon being subjected to shear forces in one direction, capable of being oriented in said direction, and said reformed mesophase pitch having a mesophase content MC of between 40 and 100% and a quinoline-insoluble content QI of between 5 and 70 weight %.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A reformed mesophase pitch as claimed in claim 1, and having a softening point SP in °C. satisfying the following conditions: when 40≦MC<100, ##EQU5## and when MC=100, ##EQU6##
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A reformed mesophase pitch as claimed in claim 1, and having MC of between 60 and 100%.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A reformed mesophase pitch as claimed in claim 1, and having MC of between 90 and 100%.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A reformed mesophase pitch as claimed in claim 1, and having QI of between 10 and 60%.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A reformed mesophase pitch as claimed in claim 1, and having a H/C ratio of between 0.43 and 0.75.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
87 words
A process for the preparation of a reformed mesophase pitch, comprising heat-treating a dormant mesophase pitch to form a continuous phase of anisotropic domains, said dormant mesophase pitch comprising dormant anisotropic components which are partially hydrogenated, polycyclic polycondensed ring aromatic hydrocarbons derived from the mesophase of a mesophase pitch by hydrogenation of said mesophase and which are soluble in quinoline, and said dormant mesophase pitch being optically isotropic in nature but, upon being subjected to shear forces in one direction, capable of being oriented in said direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
87 words
A process for the preparation of a reformed mesophase pitch, comprising heat-treating a dormant mesophase pitch to form a continuous phase of anisotropic domains, said dormant mesophase pitch comprising dormant anisotropic components which are partially hydrogenated, polycyclic polycondensed ring aromatic hydrocarbons derived from the mesophase of a mesophase pitch by hydrogenation of said mesophase and which are soluble in quinoline, and said dormant mesophase pitch being optically isotropic in nature but, upon being subjected to shear forces in one direction, capable of being oriented in said direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
A process as claimed in claim 7, wherein said heat treatment is conducted so that the product of the heat treatment has a mesophase content MC of between 40 and 100%, a quinoline content QI of between 5 and 70 weight % and a softening point SP satisfying the following conditions: when 40≦MC<100 ##EQU7## and when MC=100 ##EQU8##
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process as claimed in claim 7, wherein said dormant mesophase is obtained by hydrogenating the mesophase of a mesophase pitch so that mesophase is rendered soluble in quinoline.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process as claimed in claim 9, wherein said mesophase pitch is subjected to hydrogenating conditions so that substantially all the mesophase contained therein is rendered soluble in quinoline.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process as claimed in claim 7, wherein said mesophase pitch has a H/C ratio of between 0.43 and 0.75.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process as claimed in claim 7, wherein said mesophase pitch has a mesophase content of between 1 and 90 weight %.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process as claimed in claim 9, wherein the product of said hydrogenation is heated above its melting point for a period of time sufficient to remove low boiling point components therefrom.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
A process for the production of a carbon fiber comprising the steps of: heating a reformed mesophase pitch of claim 1 above its melting point; spinning a carbonaceous fiber from said molten pitch; exposing said spun fiber in an oxygen-containing atmosphere so that said spun fiber is rendered infusible; and heat-treating said infusible fiber at temperatures above 800° C.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The reformed mesophase pitch of claim 1 formed by heat-treating said dormant mesophase pitch at 350°-520° C. for 1 minute to 10 hours.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 7 wherein said heat-treating is at 350°-520° C. for 1 minute to 10 hours.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The reformed mesophase pitch of claim 1 formed by heat-treating a hydrogenated pitch substantially free of mesophase.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 7 wherein said hydrogenating is continued until the pitch becomes substantially free from mesophase.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 7 wherein the hydrogenated pitch exhibits a latent optical anisotropy.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 7 wherein said dormant mesophase pitch is formed from said hydrogenated pitch at an early stage of said heat-treating.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The reformed mesophase pitch of claim 1 formed by heat-treating a hydrogenated pitch exhibiting latent optical anisotropy.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The reformed mesophase pitch of claim 1 formed by heat-treating an isotropic hydrogenated pitch.