Abstract: Disclosed is a diacetylene compound comprising, as structural units, (a) at least one member selected from diacetylene group-containing organic groups of the formulae (I) and (II):R.sup.I --C.tbd.C--C.tbd.C--R.sup.II -- (I)and--R.sup.III --C.tbd.C--C.tbd.C--R.sup.IV -- (II)wherein R.sup.I is hydrogen or a (C1-16) monovalent organic group, and R.sup.II, R.sup.III and R.sup.IV are a (C1-13) divalent organic group,(b) at least one organic group having at least one carbon-to-carbon double bond, and (c) at least one connecting group connecting the units (a) and (b) , which connecting group is selected from amide, imide, ester, ether, amino, imino, urethane, sulfonyl and carbonyl bonds. A cured shaped article made of this compound exhibits isotropically a high elastic modulus and has excellent mechanical properties.

Abstract: A method for producing an elastic graphite material having a packing density of 1.0 g/cm.sup.3 or lower and a recovery of 50% or higher at a compressibility of 10 to 90% is provided, which comprises: heating a carbonaceous material rapidly while bringing the carbonaceous material into contact with nitric acid for expansion and foaming, and graphitizing the thus expanded and foamed carbonaceous material.