Embodiments of methods for improving mesophase pitch for carbon fiber production using supercritical carbon dioxide are described. The methods improve the relative amount and quality of mesophase pitch in feedstocks, such as coal tar, already having at least some mesophase pitch. One particular method includes performing a sCO2/toluene extraction on the coal tar to obtain a toluene insoluble fraction of the coal tar; mixing the toluene insoluble fraction with sCO2 to obtain a sCO2/toluene insoluble fraction mixture; and extruding the sCO2/toluene insoluble fraction mixture, thereby separating the sCO2 from the toluene insoluble fraction to obtain fibers of mesophase pitch.

Embodiments of methods for improving mesophase pitch for carbon fiber production using supercritical carbon dioxide are described. The methods improve the relative amount and quality of mesophase pitch in feedstocks, such as coal tar, already having at least some mesophase pitch. One particular method includes performing a sCO2/toluene extraction on the coal tar to obtain a toluene insoluble fraction of the coal tar; mixing the toluene insoluble fraction with sCO2 to obtain a sCO2/toluene insoluble fraction mixture; and extruding the sCO2/toluene insoluble fraction mixture, thereby separating the sCO2 from the toluene insoluble fraction to obtain fibers of mesophase pitch.

The present invention refers to a flame retardant comprising a complex formed by phosphine oxide and transition metal salt, wherein has good flame retardant property. The present invention also refers to a composite flame retardant and flame retardant antistatic composition, wherein composite flame retardant comprise the flame retardant and the inorganic flame retardant component as described above, which has an enhanced flame retardant effect; said flame retardant antistatic composition, comprising above described flame retardant or composite flame retardant and carbon nanofiber antistatic agent, wherein carbon nanofiber antistatic agent could have interaction with flame retardant, effectively reducing the amount of flame retardant, and the combination with the flame retardant without the adverse effect of each other which result in negative performance of each other, does not influence the subsequent foaming process and the foam structure and physical properties. The present invention also further refers to a flame resistant method, which adds the abovementioned flame retardant, composite flame retardant or flame retardant antistatic composition into the material, so that said material has flame retardance or flame retardance and antistatic, and has excellent mechanical properties.

The present invention refers to a flame retardant comprising a complex formed by phosphine oxide and transition metal salt, wherein has good flame retardant property. The present invention also refers to a composite flame retardant and flame retardant antistatic composition, wherein composite flame retardant comprise the flame retardant and the inorganic flame retardant component as described above, which has an enhanced flame retardant effect; said flame retardant antistatic composition, comprising above described flame retardant or composite flame retardant and carbon nanofiber antistatic agent, wherein carbon nanofiber antistatic agent could have interaction with flame retardant, effectively reducing the amount of flame retardant, and the combination with the flame retardant without the adverse effect of each other which result in negative performance of each other, does not influence the subsequent foaming process and the foam structure and physical properties. The present invention also further refers to a flame resistant method, which adds the abovementioned flame retardant, composite flame retardant or flame retardant antistatic composition into the material, so that said material has flame retardance or flame retardance and antistatic, and has excellent mechanical properties.

A method for producing a carbon fiber, the method comprising: (i) subjecting a continuous carbon fiber precursor having a polymeric matrix in which strength-enhancing particles are incorporated to a stabilization process during which the carbon fiber precursor is heated to within a temperature range ranging from the glass transition temperature to no less than 20° C. below the glass transition temperature of the polymeric matrix, wherein the maximum temperature employed in the stabilization process is below 400° C., for a processing time within said temperature range of at least 1 hour in the presence of oxygen and in the presence of a magnetic field of at least 1 Tesla, while said carbon fiber precursor is held under an applied axial tension; and (ii) subjecting the stabilized carbon fiber precursor, following step (i), to a carbonization process. The stabilized carbon fiber precursor, resulting carbon fiber, and articles made thereof are also described.

A method of making a carbon fiber comprising esterification of a lignin precursor with an acid, acid anhydride, or acyl halide, thereby forming a reduced T.sub.g lignin. Mixing the reduced T.sub.g lignin with a carbon residue selected from the group of coal based raw material, petroleum based raw material and combinations thereof, thereby forming a fiber precursor mixture; and spinning the fiber precursor mixture into a fiber. A method of making a carbon fiber comprising esterification of a lignin with an acid derivative, thereby forming a reduced T.sub.g lignin. Mixing the reduced T.sub.g lignin with a pitch, thereby forming a fiber precursor mixture; and spinning the fiber precursor mixture into a fiber. A method of making a carbon fiber comprising lowering the T.sub.g of a lignin material, thereby forming a reduced T.sub.g lignin. Mixing the reduced T.sub.g lignin with a carbon residue, thereby forming a fiber precursor mixture and spinning the fiber precursor mixture into a fiber.

Embodiments discloses herein relate to methods of processing coal. A method to process coal includes subjecting raw coal to a liquefaction process effective to form a liquid pitch resin and subjecting the liquid pitch resin to a filtration process. The method further includes subjecting the liquid pitch resin to a low crystallinity spinning process to form a raw fiber. The raw fiber is then further subjected to a stabilization process configured to oxygen cross-link the fiber to form a stabilized fiber and then subjecting the stabilized fiber to a carbonization process to form a low thermal conductivity carbon fiber.

Embodiments discloses herein relate to methods of processing coal. A method to process coal includes subjecting raw coal to a liquefaction process effective to form a liquid pitch resin and subjecting the liquid pitch resin to a filtration process. The method further includes subjecting the liquid pitch resin to a low crystallinity spinning process to form a raw fiber. The raw fiber is then further subjected to a stabilization process configured to oxygen cross-link the fiber to form a stabilized fiber and then subjecting the stabilized fiber to a carbonization process to form a low thermal conductivity carbon fiber.

A method of producing advanced carbon materials can include providing coal to a processing facility, beneficiating the coal to remove impurities from the coal, processing the beneficiated coal to produce a pitch, and treating the pitch to produce an advanced carbon material such as carbon fibers, carbon nanotubes, graphene, resins, polymers, biomaterials, or other carbon materials.

A method of producing advanced carbon materials can include providing coal to a processing facility, beneficiating the coal to remove impurities from the coal, processing the beneficiated coal to produce a pitch, and treating the pitch to produce an advanced carbon material such as carbon fibers, carbon nanotubes, graphene, resins, polymers, biomaterials, or other carbon materials.