Abstract: Treatment compositions for the treatment of flowable solid polymer bodies and surfaces that come into contact with them comprise a first nonionic surfactant and a second nonionic surfactant. The first nonionic surfactant comprises a plurality of ethylene oxide groups and a plurality of butylene oxide groups. The second nonionic surfactant is different from the first nonionic surfactant and comprises a plurality of ethylene oxide groups. Treatment of flowable solid polymer bodies with the treatment composition may reduce the adhesion of the flowable solid polymer bodies to one another, and treatment of containment surfaces may reduce adhesion of flowable solid polymer bodies thereto. In the manufacture of flowable solid polymer bodies, the treatment composition may be added to the cooling water of a polymer extrusion process to inhibit fouling of surfaces contacted by the cooling water by the bodies. The treatment compositions do not exhibit undue foaming.

Abstract: A method of making a carbon fiber includes heat treating a lignin precursor absent an active ingredient in an inert atmosphere to raise the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the precursor by at least five (5%) percent, forming a lignin precursor having an increased Tg (High Tg Lignin). The High Tg Lignin can be spun into a fiber. The fiber may then be stabilized to form a thermoset fiber. The time period for stabilizing the fiber is less than one hundred (100) hours.