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Abstract

The formation of improved intercalated graphitic carbon fibers of further diminished electrical resistivity (i.e., increased electrical conductivity) is made possible. Not only is the specific electrical resistivity of the resulting fibers reduced (e.g., to extremely low levels no greater than that of copper in preferred embodiments), but the desirable tensile properties of the fibers are maintained at a satisfactory level even after intercalation. A carbonaceous fibrous material containing the usual turbostratic graphitic carbon which is derived from an acrylonitrile homopolymer or a closely related copolymer (as defined) is selected and is structurally modified in a manner which has been found to render it particularly suited for intercalation as evidenced by a further reduction in the electrical resistivity of the resulting intercalated fibrous material while retaining other desirable properties. More specifically, the carbonaceous fibrous material (as defined) prior to intercalation with an electron acceptor intercalating agent is modified via an atypical extremely high temperature treatment so as to yield a modified structure which can be evidenced upon wide angle x-ray diffraction analysis, i.e. resolved graphitic Miller index (100) and (101) reflections and the presence of a (112) reflection are observed, which surprisingly has been found capable of subsequently yielding an improved intercalated product having a substantially reduced electrical resistivity. The intercalated product finds utility as an improved lightweight electrical conductor.

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