Structure of melt-blown mesophase pitch-based carbon fiber

Mesophase pitch-based short carbon fibers prepared by the melt blown method exhibited diameters 6 to 16 mu m distributed along the filament. The transverse surfaces of the thicker and thinner parts of the filament were very different. The thicker part showed a skin/core texture where very thick and long domains run parallel to the core while the thinner one had a PAN-AM texture where sets of straight domains run along the equator. Such unique shapes and textures were prepared through melt blown spinning and different extents of stabilization according to the diameter of the filament. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.