A carbon fiber manufacturing method with which high quality carbon fibers can be obtained. The carbon fiber manufacturing method includes introducing carbon fiber precursor fiber bundles that have been spread in sheet form into a flameproofing furnace, flameproofing the carbon fiber precursor fiber bundles introduced into the flameproofing furnace in a temperature range of 200 C. to 300 C., introducing the flameproofed fiber bundles obtained from the flameproofing treatment into a carbonization furnace, and carbonizing the flameproofed fiber bundles introduced into the carbonization furnace in a temperature range of 300 C. to 2500 C. The flameproofing furnace includes a heat-treatment chamber and a sealing chamber adjacent thereto and discharges air from the sealing chamber to outside of the flameproofing furnace. The space velocity (SV) (1/h) of hot air blown from the heat-treatment chamber into the sealing chamber satisfies relationship: 80SV400.

The present invention is a method for producing carbon fiber, characterized by using a carbon-fiber precursor produced from a polymer having a narrow molecular weight distribution and by applying only a small amount of a smoothing agent, composed of a specific component, to the carbon fiber surface immediately before winding of carbon fiber. According to the present invention, it is possible to stably produce carbon fiber, which has excellent dispersibility and do not deteriorate in quality and quality even when a sizing agent is not attached to the carbon fiber surface. In addition, the produced carbon fiber is suitable for use in a composite material which is produced by high-temperature processing using a thermoplastic resin.

An improved method of producing activated carbon fabrics from cotton fabrics involves washing a piece of cotton fabric with a detergent before soaking the washed piece of cotton fabric in an acidic chemical such as phosphoric acid for a specific amount of time, and then drying the soaked piece of cotton fabric in an oven. After the fabric has been dried, it is heated in a furnace which is fed with a flow of nitrogen gas as the temperature of the furnace is gradually increased to a pre-determined temperature and kept at the pre-determined temperature for an extended amount of time, before allowing the temperature to gradually return back to room temperature. After being removed from the furnace and being washed with distilled water to remove any remnants of phosphoric acid, the resulting product is an activated carbon fabric.

An improved method of producing activated carbon fabrics from cotton fabrics involves washing a piece of cotton fabric with a detergent before soaking the washed piece of cotton fabric in an acidic chemical such as phosphoric acid for a specific amount of time, and then drying the soaked piece of cotton fabric in an oven. After the fabric has been dried, it is heated in a furnace which is fed with a flow of nitrogen gas as the temperature of the furnace is gradually increased to a pre-determined temperature and kept at the pre-determined temperature for an extended amount of time, before allowing the temperature to gradually return back to room temperature. After being removed from the furnace and being washed with distilled water to remove any remnants of phosphoric acid, the resulting product is an activated carbon fabric.

Systems and methods for performing an in-tool carbonization process including exotherm control on a fibrous preform includes one or more temperature control channels disposed in a heat treatment tooling fixture. A fluid may be moved through the temperature control channel(s) for controlling a temperature of the fibrous preform as the fibrous preform is heated during carbonization. A fluid source, a valve arrangement, and one or more heaters can be controlled for regulating a temperature and/or flow rate of fluid through the temperature control channel(s). In this manner, the fibrous preform may be uniformly brought to an exotherm temperature range such that shrinking of the fibrous preform occurs simultaneously and uniformly throughout the fibrous preform. The temperature control channels can be grouped by geographic location for zoned temperature control. The carbonization process can be performed using a single composite fixture or using both metallic and composite fixtures.

Systems and methods for performing an in-tool carbonization process including exotherm control on a fibrous preform includes one or more temperature control channels disposed in a heat treatment tooling fixture. A fluid may be moved through the temperature control channel(s) for controlling a temperature of the fibrous preform as the fibrous preform is heated during carbonization. A fluid source, a valve arrangement, and one or more heaters can be controlled for regulating a temperature and/or flow rate of fluid through the temperature control channel(s). In this manner, the fibrous preform may be uniformly brought to an exotherm temperature range such that shrinking of the fibrous preform occurs simultaneously and uniformly throughout the fibrous preform. The temperature control channels can be grouped by geographic location for zoned temperature control. The carbonization process can be performed using a single composite fixture or using both metallic and composite fixtures.

A flameproof polyphenylene ether formed body of the present invention has a minimum value (%/ C.) of 0.40%/ C. or more and 0.10%/ C. or less in a differential thermogravimetric curve in a range of 400 C. to 550 C.

A flameproof polyphenylene ether formed body of the present invention has a minimum value (%/ C.) of 0.40%/ C. or more and 0.10%/ C. or less in a differential thermogravimetric curve in a range of 400 C. to 550 C.

The present invention is a method for producing carbon fiber, characterized by using a carbon-fiber precursor produced from a polymer having a narrow molecular weight distribution and by applying only a small amount of a smoothing agent, composed of a specific component, to the carbon fiber surface immediately before winding of carbon fiber. According to the present invention, it is possible to stably produce carbon fiber, which has excellent dispersibility and do not deteriorate in quality and quality even when a sizing agent is not attached to the carbon fiber surface. In addition, the produced carbon fiber is suitable for use in a composite material which is produced by high-temperature processing using a thermoplastic resin.

Hybrid carbon nanofiber (Cnf) products (e.g., mats, yarns, webs, etc.) and methods of fabricating the same are provided. The hybrid Cnf products are flexible and lightweight and have high thermal conductivity. An electrospinning process can be used to fabricate the hybrid Cnf products and can include preparation of an electrospinning solution, electrospinning, and carbonization (e.g., under a vacuum condition).