Carbon fibers produced by pyrolysis of natural gas in stainless steel tubes

Abstract

Carbon fibers of uniform diameter have been grown by pyrolysis of natural gas in type 304 stainless steel (18% Cr, 8% Ni) tubes at temperatures between 950 and 1075 °C. The method utilizes the circulation of wet hydrogen outside the growth tube in order to promote effective nucleation. Fibers 12 cm long having average moduli of 1.8×1011 Pa have been grown.