Spinnable mesophase pitch precursor containing more than 98% mesophase content was successfully prepared from FCC-DO (fluid catalytic cracking-decant oil) without hydrogenation or catalytic reaction. The preparation method involved thermal condensation, vacuum treatment, and annealing treatment. Petroleum mesophase pitch-based carbon fibers are produced by melt spinning of pitch precursors, followed by stabilization and carbonization. The resulting carbon fiber exhibited good mechanical performances up to tensile strength of 2.1 GPa and tensile modulus of 212 GPa, with strain-to-failure higher than 1.0%. These properties ensuring that the automotive grade carbon fibers can be successfully prepared from FCC-DO derived petroleum mesophase pitches through the cost-competitive processes.

    Abstract
    1 Introduction
    2 Experimental
        2.1 Preparation of mesophase pitch
        2.2 Fiber spinning
        2.3 Heat treatments
        2.4 Material characterization
    3 Results and discussion
        3.1 Pitch precursors
        3.2 Carbon fiber
    4 Conclusion
    Acknowledgements 
    References

• Seunghyun Ko(Carbon Industry Frontier Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT))
• Jong‑Eun Choi(Carbon Industry Frontier Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), Advanced Materials and Chemical Engineering, University of Science and Technology (UST))
• Chul Wee Lee(Carbon Industry Frontier Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), Advanced Materials and Chemical Engineering, University of Science and Technology (UST))
• Young‑Pyo Jeon(Carbon Industry Frontier Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), Advanced Materials and Chemical Engineering, University of Science and Technology (UST))