Process for producing synthetic caking coal and binder pitch

A raw synthetic caking coal prepared by thermally cracking a heavy hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of petroleum atmospheric oil, vacuum residual oil, cracked residual oil, catalytically cracked oil, and propane asphalt at a temperature of from 380.degree. to 500.degree. C, which composition is characterized by a volatile matter 25.2 to 60.7 percent, an atomic ratio of H/C of 0.60 to about 0.75, a maximum fluidity greater than 40 ddpm and a free-swelling index greater than 2.

A raw synthetic caking coal prepared by thermally cracking a heavy hyro carbon selected from the group consisting of petroleum atmospheric oil, vacuum residual oil, cracked residual oil, catalytically cracked oil, and propane asphalt at a temperature of from 380.degree. to 500.degree. C, which composition is characterized by a volatile matter content of from 25.2 to 60.7 percent, an atomic ratio of H/C of 0.60 to about 1.20 and a maximum fluidity greater than 40 ddpm and 10 to 90 wt. percent of pyridine soluble components having an aromaticity factor, fa, of 0.5 to 1.0.

A raw synthetic caking coal prepared by thermally cracking a heavy hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of petroleum atmospheric oil, vacuum residual oil, cracked residual oil, catalytically cracked oil, and propane asphalt at a temperature of from 380.degree. to 500.degree. C, which composition is characterized by a volatile matter of from 25.2 to 60.7 percent, an atomic ratio of H/C of 0.60 to about 0.75, a maximum fluidity greater than 40 ddpm and a free-swelling index greater than 2 and 10 to 50 wt. percent of pyridine soluble components having an aromaticity factor, fa, of 0.70 to 1.0.