Process for production of a carbon filament

A process for producing a carbon filament which comprises:

• supplying to a heating zone at least one member selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons and derivatives thereof composed mainly of carbon atoms and hydrogen atoms, the number of said carbon atoms being not more than 20 per molecule of the hydrocarbons and derivatives thereof;
• and
• heating said at least one member in the presence of an organic transition metal compound at a temperature of from 400.degree. to 3000.degree. C. in said heating zone,
• said organic transition metal compound having a metal-carbon bond and being employed in an amount of from 0.01 to 5% relative to the weight of said at least one member,
• said organic transition metal compound being a member selected from the group consisting of cyclopentadienyl, carbonyl, benzene, alkyl, allyl and alkynl compounds of a transition metal selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, V, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir and Pt, a liquid reaction product obtained by the reaction between a halogenated transition metal compound and cyclopentadiene in the presence of a basic substance, and in mixtures thereof,
• said organic transition metal compound being introduced into the heating zone in the form of a liquid or a gas.