Method to produce high-quality carbon fiber using lignin

Abstract

The present application is directed to a method of producing a lignin-based carbon fiber. This method comprises providing a lignin-containing material; producing a lignin fiber from the lignin-containing material; stabilizing the lignin fiber under tension, where the tension is adjusted during said stabilizing such that the maximum bearable tension is applied to the lignin fiber; and carbonizing the lignin fiber under tension to produce a carbon fiber, where said carbonizing is carried out at a temperature below 1200° C. and where the tension during said carbonizing is adjusted to avoid shrinkage. The present application is also directed to a lignin-based carbon fiber and molded articles containing such fibers.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.