Abstract: A process for the manufacture of molded carbon bodies directly from high-boiling aromatic hydrocarbon fractions derived from coal or mineral oil, without additional binding agents and without using high pressures, is disclosed. Molds are filled with the starting material, distillation residues from the working-up of coal tar or pyrolysis products, these residues having a softening point (KS) in excess of 40.degree. C. and a quinoline-insoluble content (QI)<1.0%, and being in the liquid state, or in the solid state, and are heated, in the first step up to 550.degree. C., the residues being converted into "green" coke. In the second step, the coke is heated up to at least 800.degree. C. at a heating rate, depending on the diameter d (m), of 1.2.times.1/d.sup.2 K/day. The molded bodies can be impregnated and graphitized. They are distinguished by high electrical conductivity, low thermal expansion, and high strength in the axial direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a continuous or discontinuous process for coking high-boiling aromatic hydrocarbons to form high grade carbon products having only a narrow range of variation of physical and chemical properties. High-boiling aromatic hydrocarbon mixtures are coked in thin layers according to a defined temperature/time program, and the functional relationship between layer thickness and optimum coking time, which applies to that program for the particular hydrocarbon mixture used, is determined by means of a simple preliminary experiment. A small quantity of the hydrocarbon mixture used is coked on a microscope hot stage under standardized conditions to determine the minimum coking temperature, the time to the final coking temperature and the dependence of coking time on the layer thickness.

Abstract: A method of producing a highly reactive pitch fraction is disclosed. Coal-tar pitch is extracted with hot chloroform and the pitch solution treated with solid iodine. The solid reaction products are separated and, in the presence of chloroform, decomposed with an aqueous ammonia solution. Following separation of the aqueous phase and removal by distillation of the chloroform, there remains a highly reactive pitch fraction which can be converted into high-anisotropic carbon at low temperatures and in short coking times.

Abstract: An improved process for treating coal tar pitch to form anisotropic carbon comprising treating coal tar pitch with picric acid, recovering the resulting picrates, decomposing the picrates and heating the resulting aromatic hydrocarbons to obtain anisotropic carbon in less time.

Abstract: A power sander includes a casing bounding a space in which a sanding plate is mounted for cyclical motion in parallelism with a plane of a support surface of the sanding plate. A sanding element, such as sandpaper, is supported on and covers the support surface of the sanding plate, and a clamping arrangement clamps the sanding element to the sanding plate. The clamping arrangement is mounted on the sanding plate for pivoting between an engaging and an disengaging position, and is biased toward the engaging position thereof. An actuating arrangement is mounted in a transverse wall of the casing for displacement between a retracted and an extended position and is operative for abutting against and displacing the clamping arrangement toward the disengaging position thereof during the movement of the actuating arrangement toward the extended position thereof.