Abstract: A clean pitch suitable for the manufacture of carbon artifacts is obtained by distilling from an aromatic feedstock a distillate material free from mesophase forming resins. The distillate is heated to obtain a heat soaked distillate free from mesophase but containing mesophase forming resins. The heat soaked distillate is further heated with inert gas sparging to convert it to mesophase pitch suitable for manufacturing carbon fibers. The heat soaked distillate also finds use as a binder or impregnation pitch.

Abstract: A process for co-production of a pitch for the manufacture of HP carbon fibers and a pitch for the manufacture of GP carbon fibers is proposed. The pitch for the manufacture of GP carbon fibers is prepared from the spent fraction not used in the production of an optically anisotropic pitch suitable for the manufacture of HP carbon fibers. The spent fraction has hitherto been discarded as a valueless material. According to the present process, a pitch for the manufacture of so-called ultra HP carbon fibers with tensile strength of over 400 Kg/mm.sup.2 and modulus of elasticity of over 60 ton/mm.sup.2 and a pitch for the manufacture of GP carbon fibers can be produced simultaneously. Both pitches have very excellent spinnability and when they are spun, they cause no fiber cut-off even at a high spinning rate of, for example, 500 m/min or 700 m/min.

Abstract: Asphaltenes are separated from hydrocarbon oil by bringing the oil into contact with formic acid or a water-soluble organic acid consisting of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen and having at least two functional groups.

Abstract: A process of thermally cracking a heavy petroleum oil wherein the heavy petroleum oil is treated successively in a cracking furnace and then in a perfect mixing type tank reactor. The thermal cracking in the cracking furnace is performed at a temperature at the outlet of the cracking furnace of 450.degree.-520.degree. C. with a conversion of at least 60-75% of the overall conversion rate while the thermal cracking in the tank reactor is performed at a temperature of 400.degree.-450.degree. C. a pressure of from ambient pressure to 1 kg/cm.sup.2 for a period of time of less than 30 minutes but not less than 10 minutes while feeding steam having a temperature of 435.degree.-700.degree. C. to the tank reactor in an amount of 8-20% by weight of the heavy petroleum oil fed to the cracking furnace.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an excellent mesophase pitch suitable for use as a spinning pitch for the production of high performance carbon fibers is disclosed. The mesophase pitch can satisfy the four remarkable characteristics at the same time, i.e., a softening point of below 320.degree. C. as determined by Mettler method, a mesophase content of above 90% as examined on a polarized microscope, a quinoline insoluble content of less than 20%, and a xylene soluble content of less than 20%. The mesophase pitch is particularly homogeneous and is easily spinnable. The process can be characterized by a preliminary extraction step, a continuous heat treatment step, and an extraction step. In some cases, the preliminary extraction step can be omitted. Graphite fibers having a tensile strength of about 400 Kg/mm.sup.2 and a modulus of elasticity of above 60 ton/mm.sup.2 can be obtained from the mesophase pitch. Further, even carbon fibers prepared at a carbonization temperature of 1000.degree. C.

Abstract: A novel optically anisotropic pitch is provided which is produced by thermal modification of a polymer having a structure of an alkylbenzene and a condensed aromatic compound with two to four fused rings bonded to each other via a methylene group.In preferred embodiments, the optical anisotropy is 80% or more. As the alkylbenzene there may be used xylene, trimethylbenzene or tetramethylbenzene. As the condensed aromatic compound with two to four fused rings, there may be used naphthalene, anthracene, phenanthrene, or naphthacene. The polymer starting material may be obtained by the reaction of a xylene formalin resin, mesitylene formalin resin or alkylbenzene and a condensed aromatic compound with two to four fused rings in the presence of a protonic acid as a catalyst.

Abstract: A process for producing an optically anisotropic pitch for use in the production of high performance carbon fibers, wherein a compound represented by the formula (1) as a raw starting material is mixed with one of heavy oils and subjected to thermal modification: ##STR1## wherein m is an integer of 2 or more; R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.6, R.sub.7, R.sub.8, R.sub.9 and R.sub.10 each represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl group or an ethyl group; and R.sub.5 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group. The pitch has a softening point which can be set at discretion and excellent molecular orientation.

Abstract: A process for producing pitch useful as a starting material for the manufacture of a carbon material is provided. The pitch is produced by polymerizing a condensed nuclear aromatic compound or a material containing the same. The polymerization is carried out in the presence of a hydrogen fluoride/boron trifluoride catalyst system. The condensed nuclear aromatic compounds which may be used in this process are naphthalene, anthracene, phenanthrene, acenaphthene, acenaphthylene, pyrene and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A process for an efficient preparation of a mesophase pitch is disclosed. The process is suitable for the production of high performance carbon fibers, from a coal tar or a petroleum residual oil. More particularly, the present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a homogeneous mesophase pitch which comprises a continuous thermal treatment of a heavy oil or a pitch which does not contain quinoline insoluble fractions, in the presence or absence of an aromatic oil, subsequent distillation of the thermally treated product, recovery of a pitch with extremely low quinoline insoluble contents, hydrogenation of the pitch by continuous thermal treatment in the presence of a hydrogen-donating solvent, distillation and recovery of a hydrogenation pitch, and thermal treatment of the hydrogenated pitch. The mesophase pitch prepared by the process of the present invention is suitable for the production of high performance carbon fibers.

Abstract: Mesophase formation is optimized in graphite and coke precursors by a process which includes determining the values of critical chemical parameters for proposed precursors, modifying the precursors by adjusting such critical chemical parameters as oxygen content, aromaticity and functionality to within certain predetermined optimal limits and treating the resulting modified precursors to form mesophase. Oxygen content can be adjusted by oxidation or reduction of the precursor. Aromaticity can be adjusted by suitable heat treatment. Functionality can be adjusted by derivatization.

Abstract: A process for producing a pitch useful as a raw material for carbon fibers, which comprises(1) heat-treating at least one starting material selected from the group consisting of a heavy oil obtained by fluid catalytic cracking of a petroleum, a distillate or a residual oil obtained by distilling the heavy oil, and a pitch obtained by heat-treating any of the foregoing materials at a temperature of 350.degree. to 550.degree. C.,(2) separating and removing insoluble substances from the reaction mixture obtained in step (1) to obtain a first treated mixture,(3) heating the first treated mixture obtained in step (2) at a temperature of 250.degree. to 400.degree. C. and removing light fractions which distill at said temperature to obtain a second treated mixture, and(4) treating the second treated mixture obtained in step (3) at a temperature of 430.degree. to 550.degree. C.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the preparation of a hydrocarbonaceous distillate and a hydrocarbonaceous residue, which comprises mixing a residual fraction of a product obtained by catalytic cracking or hydrocracking a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock, with a second hydrocarbonaceous fraction having such a boiling range that at least 50% w boils at a temperature above 400.degree. C., and subjecting the resulting mixture to a subatmospheric distillation yielding at least one distillate fraction and one residue. The residue thus prepared is a suitable component in bitumen compositions.

Abstract: A method of producing high quality, homogenous asphalt comprising the steps of mixing and heating a hydrocarbon feedstock not normally suited for asphalt production with elemental sulfur and agitating the resulting mixture. A halide catalyst may be added to the mixture to promote the reaction of the hydrocarbon feedstock with the sulfur. If desired, the agitated mixture may be air blown in any conventional manner to increase its hardness.

Abstract: Pyrolysis tars are upgraded by hydrotreatment thereof in the presence of an acidic catalyst. The treated pyrolysis tars are used to produce premium cokes useful in the production of graphite electrodes.

Abstract: A new and novel process is described for preparing an aromatic pitch having a high liquid crystal fraction and being suitable for carbon artifact manufacture, such as for the manufacture of pitch carbon fiber.

Abstract: Until now, it has not yet been succeeded to prepare high performance carbon fibers having satisfactory strength from heavy oils of coal or petroleum origin. We now succeeded to prepare an excellent intermediate pitch which allows the preparation of high performance carbon fibers having tensile strength of higher than 300 Kg/mm.sup.2 and Young's modulus of 50 ton/mm.sup.2.The intermediate pitch can be obtained by heating a heavy oil of coal or petroleum origin in a tubular heater under a specific conditions, and then flash distilling the heater effluent in a flash distillation column under a specific condition so as to remove lighter fractions and recovering heavy fraction from the column bottom as the intermediate pitch. The process for the preparation of the intermediate pitch is simple and economical and allows continuous production without fluctuation of quality of the intermediate pitch. The intermediate pitch is also suitable for the production of higher density carbon products.

Abstract: Pitch is converted to mesophase pitch in the presence of catalytically effective amounts of oxides, diketones, carboxylates and carbonyls of metals selected from vanadium, chromium, molybdenum, iron, nickel and cobalt. The crystalloidal or mesophase pitch obtained can be used for the production of carbon fibers and other carbon and graphite products and articles of manufacture of unusually high quality.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an improved pitch for making readily stabilizable, substantially nonmesophasic carbon fibers. The pitch has a softening point of about 250.degree. C.(480.degree. F.) or above and is produced from an unoxidized thermal petroleum pitch by selectively reducing or eliminating a portion of the low molecular weight materials in a very short period of time so that the tendency to produce mesophase pitch is eliminated or reduced and so that the chemical integrity of the components of the higher molecular weight fractions is preserved as much as possible. Also disclosed is a method of producing carbon fibers therefrom and rovings or mats from such fibers.

Abstract: A continuous process for the production of carbonaceous pitch, including heat-treating an aromatic heavy oil in a first thermal cracking zone for obtaining a first cracked product, and introducing the first cracked product into a second thermal cracking zone where it is thermally cracked by direct contact with a gaseous heat transfer medium to form distillable cracked components and a mesophase-containing pitch. The liquid phase in the second thermal cracking zone, including the mesophase-containing pitch, is discharged therefrom and separated into a mesophase-rich pitch and a matrix pitch having a low concentration of mesophase. The mesophase-rich pitch is recovered while at least a portion of the matrix pitch is recycled to the second thermal cracking zone.

Abstract: A continuous process of producing carbonaceous pitch, including heat-treating an aromatic heavy oil for obtaining a first cracked product, and thermally cracking the first product in a cracking zone by direct contact with a gaseous heat transfer medium to obtain distillable cracked components and a mesophase-containing pitch. A first portion of the liquid phase in the cracking zone, including the mesophase-containing pitch, is separated into a mesophase-rich pitch and a matrix pitch having a low concentration of mesophase. The mesophase-rich pitch is recovered while at least a portion of the matrix pitch is recycled to the cracking zone. The distillable cracked components are withdrawn from the cracking zone and separated into light, middle and heavy fractions. At least a portion of the heavy fraction is heat treated and is recycled to the cracking zone.

Abstract: A feedstock for mesophase pitch is produced by hydrotreating a decant oil until there is from about 2 to about 3 hydrogen atoms per average molecule of the decant oil, and thereafter subjecting the hydrotreated decant oil to distilling to form a pitch.

Abstract: Bulk mesophase can be economically produced without coking trouble from a heavy oil in an apparatus comprising: a heat-treatment vessel for heat treating the oil thereby to form pitch containing mesophase microspheres; a cyclone-type separator installed directly below the vessel and operating to cause the mesophase microspheres within the pitch introduced into the separator to coalesce thereby to separate the mesophase microspheres from the matrix pitch; and ascent and descent pipes communicatively connecting the interiors of the vessel and the separator, the ascent pipe returning matrix pitch after removal of the mesophase microspheres into the vessel together with newly supplied oil, which drives the matrix pitch by jet-pump action, the descent pipe introducing the pitch with mesophase microsphere into the top part of the separator in a horizontal tangential direction to produce a cyclone separation action therein.

Abstract: Disclosed is a one-step method of producing an industrial asphalt from a bituminous material which comprises mixing together without air-blowing:(a) a feed material comprising a bituminous material having a viscosity of at least 50 centistokes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit and wherein the feed material forms a single phase when mixed with 5 weight percent maleic anhydride; and(b) from about 0.1 to 20.0 percent by weight of maleic anhydride, said mixing being done at a temperature in the range of 351 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit, whereby the softening point of the feed is substantially increased and the penetration is significantly decreased.

Abstract: Disclosed is a one-step method of producing an industrial asphalt from a bituminous material which comprises mixing together without air-blowing:(a) a feed material comprising a bituminous material having a viscosity of at least 50 centistokes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit and wherein the feed petroleum residuum forms a single phase when mixed with 5 weight percent hydrobromic acid; and(b) from about 0.1 to 20.0 percent by weight hydrobromic acid, said mixing being done at a temperature in the range of 351 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit, whereby the softening point of the feed is substantially increased and the penetration is significantly decreased.

Abstract: A method for spinning filament yarns of high strength, high modulus carbon fibers is provided by way of a melt-spinning process in which a heated inert gas or a non-oxidative gas such as hydrocarbons of small C-numbers is injected steadily onto the surfaces of spinning nozzles to stabilize and ease the melt-spinning.

Abstract: A method of preparing an carbonaceous pitch, including the steps of:subjecting a raw material oil to thermal cracking conditions while removing cracked, light hydrocarbon components to obtain a pitch product containing at least 5 weight % of mesophase and not more than 10 weight % of light hydrocarbon components with a boiling point at 60 mmHg of 300.degree. C. or less and having a softening point of between 160.degree. and 220.degree. C., the raw material oil being composed mainly of a residual oil which has a boiling point of 350.degree. C. or more and which is derived from a naphthene base petroleum crude; andremoving the mesophase from the pitch product to obtain a substantially mesophase-free carbonaceous pitch.

Abstract: This invention describes a substantially homogeneous, optically anisotropic carbonaceous pitch characterized in that the major portion of said pitch consists of a continuous, optically anisotropic phase, said optically anisotropic phase contains spherules of an optically isotropic phase having diameters of not more than about 100 .mu.m and dispersed in said optically anisotropic phase, the content of said optically isotropic spherules is up to about 20% on the basis of said pitch as a whole, said pitch contains at least about 30 wt % (based on said pitch) of a quinoline-soluble component, and said pitch has a lower softening point.

Abstract: A precursor pitch suitable for production of carbon fiber which is excellent in thermal stability, spinnability, infusibility and is few in impurities, is produced by heating a coal tar pitch at a temperature of 350.degree.-500.degree. C. to form mesophase and extracting the thus heated pitch with a tar series light oil to obtain the precursor pitch.

Abstract: Precursor pitch to be used for formation of carbon fiber is produced by heating a coal tar soft or middle pitch at a temperature of 350.degree.-500.degree. C. at a first stage to form mesophase, extracting the thus treated pitch with a solvent, separating and removing the solvent insoluble portion including mesophase to obtain a pitch containing no free carbon and further at the second stage heat-treating the pitch containing no free carbon in an inert gas atmosphere under atmospheric pressure or a reduced pressure under the following condition600-1.2 T.ltoreq..theta..ltoreq.1,800-3.6 T(provided that 350.ltoreq.T.ltoreq.500)wherein T(.degree.C.) is the temperature of the heat treatment and .theta. (min) is the time for which said temperature is held, to form bulk mesophase pitch containing 20-60% by weight of quinoline insoluble portion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a one-step method of producing an industrial asphalt from a bituminous material which comprises mixing together without air-blowing:(a) a feed material comprising a bituminous material having a viscosity of at least 50 centistokes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit and wherein the feed petroleum residuum forms a single phase when mixed with 5 percent of 98 percent sulfuric acid; and(b) from about 0.1 to 20.0 percent by weight of sulfuric acid, said mixing being done at a temperature in the range of 351 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit, whereby the softening point of the feed is substantially increased and the penetration is significantly decreased.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of carbon fibers, including the steps of:subjecting a raw material oil to thermal cracking conditions at a temperature of between 400.degree. to 500.degree. C. while removing cracked, light hydrocarbon components to obtain a pitch product containing at least 5 weight % of mesophase and not more than 10 weight % of light hydrocarbon components with a boiling point at 60 mmHg (absolute) of 300.degree. C. or less and having a softening point of between 140.degree. and 220.degree. C., the raw material oil having a boiling point of at least 500.degree. C. and containing at least 30 weight % of a residual oil which has a boiling point of at least 500.degree. C. and a metal content of at least 200 weight ppm and which is derived from a napthene base and/or intermediate base petroleum crude;removing the mesophase having a particle size of more than 10 .mu.

Abstract: A starting pitch for carbon fibers is obtained by mixing (1) 100 parts by volume of a heavy fraction oil boiling at not lower than 200.degree. C. and obtained at the time of fluidized catalytic cracking of petroleum with (2) 10 to 200 parts by volume of a fraction boiling in the range of 250.degree. to 550.degree. C. obtained by distilling under reduced pressure an oil produced at the time of heat treating a starting pitch and then heat treating the resulting mixture at a temperature of from 370.degree. C. to 480.degree. C. under a pressure of from 2 to 50 Kg/cm.sup.2.G thereby to obtain the starting pitch for carbon fibers. The thus obtained starting pitch is heat treated to obtain a precursor pitch which is melt spun, infusibilized, carbonized or graphitized to obtain the carbon fibers.

Abstract: A substantially uniform mesophase pitch is prepared by treating a mesophase forming pitch material at elevated temperatures above about 380.degree. C. to produce a mixture of mesophase and non-mesophase pitch containing about 20% to about 80% mesophase. The mixture is then maintained at a temperature below about 400.degree. C. for a time sufficient to allow the mesophase to coalesce and settle as a lower separable layer. A mesophase pitch so produced may contain from 90 to 100% mesophase with a softening point of less than 320.degree. C.

Abstract: A method for producing a 100% mesophase pitch composed only of Q.I. and Q.S. components is provided. This method comprises subjecting petroleum-origin pitch to heat treatment with stirring under a stream of a hydrocarbon gas of small carbon atom numbers at atmospheric or superatmospheric pressure, holding said heat-treated pitch in quiescent state to melt and coalesce only the mesophase therein and dividing and separating non-mesophase and mesophase layers. Resulting 100% mesophase enables us to produce high strength, high modulus carbon fibers.

Abstract: A method for producing a 100% mesophase composed only of Q.I. component and Q.S. component is provided. This method comprises forming mesophase by the heat treatment of petroleum-origin pitch, subjecting the heat-formed pitch to a condition of heating under quiescent state to cause only the mesophase in the heat-formed pitch to grow and coalesce, separating only the non-mesophase of the upper layer and repeating the operation of the heat treatment and maintenance of heating under a quiescent state by the separated non-mesophase, as a raw material.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for upgrading heavy hydrocarbon oil by thermal treatment which in one preferred embodiment involves heating a petroleum residuum type of heavy oil feedstock at a temperature of 450.degree.-550.degree. C. and a pressure of 10-200 psi for a period of about 0.1-1 hour to convert at least 60 weight percent of the heavy oil to gasoline and gas oil range products, and additionally providing a residual tar fraction which has a fusion temperature below about 160.degree. C.About 1-10 weight percent of solid carbonaceous fines are incorporated in the feedstock to suppress the deposition of coke in the thermal treatment zone.

Abstract: A process is described for preparing a highly anisotropic aromatic pitch characterized by a high content of toluene insolubles, a low melting point, a low viscosity, and low content of quinoline insolubles by heat soaking a petroleum pitch derived from catalytic cracking residue at high temperatures for a short time followed by stripping the distillable oils. The pitch made in accordance with this process will yield a highly anisotropic carbon on carbonization at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: A starting pitch for carbon fibers, obtained by (A) mixing together (1) a heavy fraction oil boiling at not lower than 200.degree. C. obtained at the time of fluidized catalytic cracking of petroleum, (2) a hydrogenated oil selected from aromatic hydrocarbons of 2-10 rings having their nuclei partly hydrogenated and specific fractions boiling at 160.degree.-650.degree. C. and containing such aromatic hydrocarbons and (3) a heavy fraction oil boiling at not lower than 200.degree. C. obtained at the time of steam cracking of petroleum, to form a mixture of the oils (1), (2) and (3), and then (B) heat treating the thus formed oil mixture at 370.degree.-480.degree. C. and 2-50 Kg/cm.sup.2.G thereby to obtain the starting pitch.

Abstract: A method for producing continuously 100% mesophase composed only of Q.I. component and Q.S. component in which a raw material of petroleum origin pitch is subjected continuously to a heat-treatment step in an amount necessary to produce a 100% mesophase taken out from a mesophase-growing and coalescing step, transferring the heat-formed pitch formed in the heat treatment step to a mesophase growing and coalescing step, taking out a definite amount of a non-mesophase pitch from the mesophase growing and coalescing step after stirring and heating treatment to return it to the heat-treatment step to repeat the stirring and heating treatment, and at the same time to take out 100% mesophase having constant properties from the mesophase growing and coalescing step.

Abstract: A spinnable precursor from petroleum pitch is obtained by subjecting a distillable oil removed carbonaceous residue of petroleum origin to solvent extraction and thereafter heat treating the extracted solvent insoluble fraction under reduced pressure.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an improved pitch for making readily stabilizable, substantially nonmesophasic carbon fibers. The pitch has a softening point of about 250.degree. C. (480.degree. F.) or above and is produced from an unoxidized thermal petroleum pitch by selectively reducing or eliminating a portion of the low molecular weight materials in a very short period of time so that the tendency to produce mesophase pitch is eliminated or reduced and so that the chemical integrity of the components of the higher molecular weight fractions is preserved as much as possible. Also disclosed is a method of producing carbon fibers therefrom and rovings or mats from such fibers.

Abstract: A heavy oil such as an atmospheric pressure residue, a reduced pressure residue of petroleum, etc. is heated to 400.degree. to 500.degree. C. to carry out polycondensation and provide a pitch containing mesophase microspheres. This pitch is once cooled to 200.degree. to 400.degree. C. and a turbulent flow is imparted thereto to cause agglomeration of the mesophase microspheres. The resulting agglomerates are separated to obtain a crystallizable material enriched with quinoline insolubles. Production of the crystallizable material is preferably conducted in a separation tank accommodating the lower part of a heating polycondensation reactor (6) and having a stirring device (12).

Abstract: A method for producing a mesophase-containing pitch from petroleum pitch or coal tar pitch is disclosed. According to this method volatile distillate fractions, which are harmful to mesophase formation and present originally in the raw material pitch or formed as by-product during heat treatment time are driven off by using a carrier gas at a temperature of 360.degree. to 450.degree. C. in order to shorten the overall heat treatment time and advance the mesophase formation smoothly by the increase of stirring effect.

Abstract: A pitch which affords a carbon fiber having a high strength and a high elastic modulus is obtained by treating a pitch containing 5 to 35 wt. % of an optically anisotropic region with an oxidizing gas, followed by hydrogenation treatment if required.

Abstract: A process for the production of carbon fibers which comprises using a specific optically isotropic pitch having a reflectivity of 9.0-11.0% as the material for the carbon fibers.

Abstract: A process for the production of high performance carbon fibers which comprises using as the starting material a specific pitch having the lowest reflectivity in the range of 8.5-9.3% and the highest reflectivity in the range of 11.8-12.5%.

Abstract: A process for converting cat cracker bottoms to a feedstock suitable for carbon artifact manufacture, especially carbon fiber manufacture, is provided. Basically, the cat cracker bottom is stripped of fractions boiling below about 400.degree. C., catalytically heat soaked at temperatures below about 410.degree. C., and then vacuum stripped to provide a pitch. The pitch is subsequently treated to remove high melting solids, such as ash, coke and catalyst fines.

Abstract: A process for producing a pitch is disclosed. The process involves distilling a heavy petroleum oil under reduced pressure to obtain a distillate, the distillate is hydrogenated to obtain a hydrogenated oil which is subjected to catalytic cracking. The cracked oil is subjected to distillation to obtain a high boiling point fraction having a boiling point of more than 300.degree. C. The high boiling point fraction is subjected to thermal modification in order to obtain the pitch. The pitch can be utilized in order to produce carbon fibers of high quality. By utilizing the process a greater variety of starting materials can be utilized in order to produce the pitch which is utilized to produce high quality carbon fibers.

Abstract: A process for producing a pitch which can be utilized as a raw material for producing carbon fibers is disclosed. The process involves distilling a petroleum heavy residual oil under reduced pressure to produce a reduced pressure distillation residual oil or a reduced pressure distillate oil. The distillation residual oil is subjected to a solvent deasphaltening treatment to produce a solvent deasphaltened oil. The solvent deasphaltened oil or the reduced pressure distillate oil is subjected to solvent extraction to obtain a solvent extraction component. The solvent extraction component is thermally modified to produce the pitch. The pitch can be utilized in a melt-spinning process in order to produce carbon fibers having desirable characteristics.

Abstract: A substantially uniform mesophase pitch is prepared by treating a mesophase forming pitch material at elevated temperatures above about 380.degree. C. to produce a mixture of mesophase and non-mesophase pitch containing about 20% to about 80% mesophase. The mixture is then maintained at a temperature below about 400.degree. C. for a time sufficient to allow the mesophase to coalesce and settle as a lower separable layer. A mesophase pitch so produced may contain from 90 to 100% mesophase with a softening point of less than 320.degree. C.