Elemental metals, oxides, or alloys distributed on a carbon substrate or self-supported and process therefor

A carbonaceous material containing crystals of elemental iron and having an iron:carbon ratio of approximately 1:4, which material is attracted to a magnet, and which material is obtained from the following method:

• exposing graphite fluoride in the form of CF.sub.0.75 fiber, to FeCl.sub.3 vapors at 285.degree. C., said exposure followed by exposure to nitrogen at a temperature of approximately 350.degree. C., thereby effecting substantially complete defluorination of said graphite fluoride while also permitting said FeCl.sub.3 to enter into and alter the laminar crystal structure typical of said graphite fluoride, thereby resulting in a carbonaceous material appearing to be non-graphitic by X-ray diffraction standards and containing said first iron and chlorine;
• exposing said carbonaceous material to air at atmospheric pressure and an elevated temperature 250.degree. C., for sufficient time to remove by oxidation substantially all said halogen but little carbon from said carbonaceous material, resulting in a carbonaceous material containing an oxide of said iron;
• then exposing said carbonaceous material containing an oxide of said iron to a chemically reducing carbon monoxide atmosphere generated by admitting oxygen at a partial pressure between 10.sup.-4 atmospheres and 0.02 atmospheres to a reaction vessel holding said carbon material, quartz, and additional carbon in the form of non-graphitized carbon fibers from a PAN precursor and heating said reaction vessel to an elevated temperature of approximately 1100.degree. C. for sufficient time to convert to metal substantially all said iron oxide present, resulting in a carbonaceous fiber product containing elemental iron crystals.