The invention relates to a method and to a device for stabilizing precursor fibers for the production of carbon fibers. In the method, precursor fibers are first heated to a first temperature and held at the temperature for a predefined duration. Subsequently, the precursor fibers are heated to at least one second temperature, which is higher than the first temperature, and held at said temperature for a predefined duration. During each heating and between the heating steps, the precursor fibers are in a gas atmosphere having a negative pressure in the range between 12 mbar and 300 mbar and having an oxygen partial pressure of 2.5 to 63 mbar. The device has at least one evacuable, elongate vacuum chamber for feeding the precursor fibers through, at least two lock units and at least one heating unit. At least one lock unit is used for the sealed insertion of precursor fibers into the at least one vacuum chamber, while at least one other lock unit is used for the sealed removal of precursor fibers from the at least one vacuum chamber. The heating unit has at least two individually controllable heating elements, which are suitable for heating the at least one vacuum chamber to at least two different temperatures in heating zones which are adjacent in the longitudinal direction.

This utility invention is to replace some of the parts of current vehicles and robotic machines with intelligent graphene-based fibers and nanocomposites to achieve significantly weight-decreasing and energy-savings. This invention also is related to the formation of new generation vehicles, machine parts including robotics, which include but not limited to all kinds of cars, trailers, trucks, vehicles on roads and in the sky, ships on the ocean, and intelligent robotics for Human, as well as computer parts, bicycles, and sports supplies.

This utility invention is to replace some of the parts of current vehicles and robotic machines with intelligent graphene-based fibers and nanocomposites to achieve significantly weight-decreasing and energy-savings. This invention also is related to the formation of new generation vehicles, machine parts including robotics, which include but not limited to all kinds of cars, trailers, trucks, vehicles on roads and in the sky, ships on the ocean, and intelligent robotics for Human, as well as computer parts, bicycles, and sports supplies.

The present technology provides fibers containing high levels of asphaltene but low levels of sulfur and total metals, starting from highly asphaltenic feeds with significant levels of sulfur and total metals. Thus, the present technology provides fibers comprising at least 30 wt % asphaltenes, less than 1 wt % sulfur and less than 0.1 wt % of total metals based on the weight of the fiber. Further, methods of making such asphaltenic fibers are provided, as well as methods of preparing carbon fibers therefrom.

The present technology provides fibers containing high levels of asphaltene but low levels of sulfur and total metals, starting from highly asphaltenic feeds with significant levels of sulfur and total metals. Thus, the present technology provides fibers comprising at least 30 wt % asphaltenes, less than 1 wt % sulfur and less than 0.1 wt % of total metals based on the weight of the fiber. Further, methods of making such asphaltenic fibers are provided, as well as methods of preparing carbon fibers therefrom.

A manufacturing method and an apparatus enable high productivity. A method for manufacturing an oxidized fiber bundle includes joining an upstream precursor fiber bundle and a downstream precursor fiber bundle together with a joining fiber bundle, and oxidizing the joined precursor fiber bundles by feeding the joined precursor fiber bundles through an oxidization furnace. The joining includes applying an oiling agent to a joint area of a joining target precursor fiber bundle before joining the joining target precursor fiber bundle and the joining fiber bundle together. A quantity of the oiling agent adhering to the joint area is 0.15 to 0.85 wt %.

A manufacturing method and an apparatus enable high productivity. A method for manufacturing an oxidized fiber bundle includes joining an upstream precursor fiber bundle and a downstream precursor fiber bundle together with a joining fiber bundle, and oxidizing the joined precursor fiber bundles by feeding the joined precursor fiber bundles through an oxidization furnace. The joining includes applying an oiling agent to a joint area of a joining target precursor fiber bundle before joining the joining target precursor fiber bundle and the joining fiber bundle together. A quantity of the oiling agent adhering to the joint area is 0.15 to 0.85 wt %.

A process for making a thermal insulation material based on carbon and which includes carbon fibers, suitable for use at temperatures above 1,500° C. The process includes providing carbon fibers with embedded carbon black particles; cutting or milling said carbon fibers to obtain short carbon filaments; preparing a slurry by introducing the short carbon filaments in a liquid phase that includes a binder capable of forming a carbon residue upon pyrolysis under non-oxidizing conditions; casting the slurry into a mold capable of separating the slurry into a wet green body and a liquid phase; and drying and heat treating the wet green body to obtain a thermal insulation material.

Disclosed are amorphous carbon nanofibers including copper nanoparticles or copper alloy nanoparticles, copper composite nanoparticles prepared by grinding the amorphous carbon nanofibers and implemented as surfaces of Cu-included particles are partially or wholly coated with amorphous carbons, a dispersed solution including the copper composite nanoparticles, and preparation methods thereof and the amorphous carbon nanofibers include nanoparticles including copper, copper nanoparticles or copper alloy nanoparticles, and, the copper composite nanoparticles are implemented as surfaces of Cu-included particles are partially or wholly coated with amorphous carbons.

Disclosed are amorphous carbon nanofibers including copper nanoparticles or copper alloy nanoparticles, copper composite nanoparticles prepared by grinding the amorphous carbon nanofibers and implemented as surfaces of Cu-included particles are partially or wholly coated with amorphous carbons, a dispersed solution including the copper composite nanoparticles, and preparation methods thereof and the amorphous carbon nanofibers include nanoparticles including copper, copper nanoparticles or copper alloy nanoparticles, and, the copper composite nanoparticles are implemented as surfaces of Cu-included particles are partially or wholly coated with amorphous carbons.