Process for preparing pitches

Abstract From the Canadian patent

Commercially attractive continuous processes for the preparation of mesophase pitches for manufacturing highperformance carbon fibers are disclosed. One feature resides in that conversion of a pitch into a mesophase pitch is conducted continuously by using a unique continuous dispersionheat-treating apparatus. The other feature resides in that the raw material for hydrogenation treatment which is a pretreatment preceeding to the final heat treatment for the production of a mesophase pitch, is prepared by using a heavy oil or pitch having substantially no BTX-insoluble material as the starting raw material, subjecting the raw material to a simple four-step treatment of (1) a continuous heat …