Process for the manufacture of a precursor yarn

A method for manufacturing a precursor yarn comprising lignin, comprising:

• a) providing cellulose and/or a cellulose derivative,
• b) providing lignin and/or a lignin derivative,
• c) dissolution of the cellulose and/or the cellulose derivative and the lignin and/or the lignin derivative in a solvent followed by subsequent mixing thus providing a dope consisting essentially of the cellulose and/or the cellulose derivative and the lignin and/or the lignin derivative and the solvent,
• d) performing a spinning of the dope to a precursor material,
• e) applying a water-free spin finish on said precursor material,
• f) drying of said precursor material, thus providing a precursor yarn comprising lignin, and
• g) performing a stabilization on the precursor yarn to produce a stabilized carbon fibre,
• wherein the water-free spin finish in step e) consists essentially of at least one organic solvent with a boiling point lower than that of water, and one or more anti-static agentsor one or more anti-friction agents or both, wherein the at least one organic solvent consists essentially of an aprotic polar solvent selected from ketoalkyl or ketoalkoxy compounds and has the structure shown below,
• and wherein
• R1=H, CH3, O-(CH2)n-CH3;
• n=0-3,
• R2=H, CH3, O-(CH2)n-CH3;
• n=0-3, and
• wherein the water-free spin finish is applied on said precursor material before drying of said precursor material.