Abstract: A new class of cost-effective carbon fiber precursors that comprise both hydrocarbon polymer and Pitch structural features in the same polymer structure to exhibit complementary advantages of both PAN- and Pitch-based carbon fiber precursors. The new class of carbon fiber precursors comprise a polymeric pitch copolymer, wherein the polymeric pitch copolymer includes a polymer chain and several pitch polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) molecules grafted or chemically bonded to the polymer chain. Method and processes for the creation of the new class of carbon fiber precursors are also presented, wherein said methods may comprise a thermally-induced coupling and extrusion step.