Abstract: A flexible electrically conducting cloth comprising a plurality of intermingled or interwoven fibers of a refractory material having a sheet resistance above 1000 ohms per square. A conducting coating having at least about 70 atomic percent carbon encapsulates a majority of the fibers. The coating is applied in sufficient quantity to render the cloth electrically conducting with a sheet resistance of about 0.1 to about 1000 ohms per square, the coating having been formed by chemical vapor deposition at 800.degree. C. to 1200.degree. C. A flexible electrically conducting cloth having a length and a breadth is also provided comprising a plurality of intermingled or interwoven fibers of a refractory material having a sheet resistance above 1000 ohms per square. A conductive coating including at least about 70 atomic percent carbon encapsulates a majority of the coating. The coating is in sufficient quantity to render the cloth conducting with a sheet resistance between 0.1 and 1000 ohms per square.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrically conductive material (10) comprising a substantially spherical refractory particle (12) having an exterior surface (14) and having a diameter of no more than about 5 millimeters. An electrically conducting coating (22) substantially equally covers the entire exterior surface (14), the coating (22) having at least about 70 atomic percent carbon and being from about 10 Angstroms to about 500 Angstroms thick. A plurality of such particles (12) are useful as filler materials. Also, such particles (12) are useful as flowing electrodes. Objects containing the particles (12) have desirable electrical properties.

Abstract: A process continuously deposits a carbonaceous film, by chemical vapor deposition, onto a moving longitudinally extending web of a plurality of matted or woven fibers, a plurality of parallel individual fibers, or a bundle of fibers, of a refractory ceramic or refractory vitreous material. The result is a coated web having a controllable resistance along its length and a substantially uniform resistance across its breadth. An organic precursor is directly applied to the web in liquid and/or solid form, the applying being at a temperature below sublimation, boiling or decomposition temperature of the precursor. The web is continuously moved through a hot chemical vapor deposition zone at a temperature of 800.degree. C-1200.degree. C., the zone being substantially oxygen-free, the residence time of each portion of the web within the zone being less than that which would deleteriously effect the properties of the resulting carbonaceous film coated web.

Abstract: A flexible electrically conducting cloth is described which comprises a plurality of intermingled or interwoven refractory fibers the sheet resistance of which exceeds 1,000 ohms per square inch and a conducting coating encapsulating a majority of the fibers, the coating including at least about 70 atomic percent carbon and being applied in sufficient quantity to render the cloth electrically conducting with a sheet resistance which lies between about 0.1 ohm per square inch and about 1,000 ohms per suqare inch. The cloth is useful as an electrical resistance heater, an electromagnetic shield, an electromagnetic reflector, or as an antenna. It is formulated by contacted substantially the entire surfaces of the intermingled or interwoven fibers with a carbon containing precursor, the fibers being at a temperature between about 700.degree. C. and 1200.degree. C., whereby the fibers are covered with a pyrolyzed coating formed from the precursor in an amount of at least about 0.001 weight percent.

Abstract: A method is set forth of chemically vapor depositing a substantially uniform carbonaceous film on to each of a plurality of small refractory particles. Uncoated small refractory particles are intimately intermixed with an organic precursor in liquid or solid form, the intermixing being at a temperature below the sublimation, boiling or decomposition temperature of the precursor. The resulting intimate intermixture is subjected to a temperature of 700.degree. C. to 1200.degree. C. in a deposition zone which is substantially oxygen-free. Residence time in the deposition zone is restricted to be less than that which would deleteriously effect properties of the resulting coated particles. The organic precursor, under the residence time and temperature conditions in the deposition zone, is substantially completely converted by sublimation, boiling and/or decomposition to one or more vaporous species. The organic precursor is selected to either (1) sublime or boil at a temperature in excess of about 400.degree. C.