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Abstract

High performance carbon filaments are provided which are characterized as having; (i) a surface area from about 50 m.sup.2 /g to 800 m.sup.2 /g, (ii) an electrical resistivity from about 0.3 .mu.ohm.m to 0.8 .mu.ohm.m, (iii) a crystallinity from about 5% to about 100%, (iv) a length from about 1 .mu.m to about 100 .mu.m, and (v) a shape which is selected from the group consisting of branched, spiral, and helical. Also provided is a carbon fiber structure suitable for use in high performance composites which structure is characterized by a primary carbon fiber structure having carbon filaments grown therefrom. The carbon filaments are grown from the carbon fibers by use of an alloy catalyst comprised of a first metal selected from Group IB of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and one or more metals from a second group of metals selected from iron, nickel, cobalt, and zinc; and optionally a metal from a third group of metals selected from titanium, tungsten, tin, and tantalum.

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