Isotropic pitch fibers were stabilized and carbonized for preparing carbon fibers. To optimize the duration and temperature during the stabilization process, a thermogravimetric analysis was conducted. Stabilized fibers were carbonized at 1000, 1500, and 2000℃ in a furnace under a nitrogen atmosphere. An elemental analysis confirmed that the carbon content increased with an increase in the carbonization temperature. Although short graphitic-like layers were observed with carbon fibers heat-treated at 1500 and 2000℃, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction revealed no significant effect of the carbonization temperature on the crystalline structure of the carbon fibers, indicating the limit of developing an ordered structure of isotropic pitch-based carbon fibers. The electrical conductivity of the carbonized fiber reached 3.9×10⁴S/m with the carbonization temperature increasing to 2000℃ using a four-point method.

• Jiadeng Zhu(Carbon Convergence Materials Research Center, Institute of Advanced Composite Materials, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Department of Organic Materials and Fiber Engineering, Chonbuk National University)
• Sang Wook Park(Chemical and Polymer Laboratory, GS Caltex R&D Center)
• Han-Ik Joh(Carbon Convergence Materials Research Center, Institute of Advanced Composite Materials, Korea Institute of Science and Technology)
• Hwan Chul Kim(Department of Organic Materials and Fiber Engineering, Chonbuk National University) Corresponding Author
• Sungho Lee(Carbon Convergence Materials Research Center, Institute of Advanced Composite Materials, Korea Institute of Science and Technology) Corresponding Author