Improved methods and catalysts for the manufacture of carbon fibrils

Abstract From the Canadian patent

An improved catalyst for producing carbon fibrils is made by incorporating an effective yield-enhancing amount of a carboxylate into a fibril-forming catalyst. Alternatively such a catalyst is , made by coprecipitating a compound of a metal having fibril-forming catalytic properties and an aluminum and/or magnesium compound optionally in the presence of carbon particles or carbon fibril aggregates. The catalyst may also be made by incorporating a compound of a fibril-forming metal onto magnesia particles in carbon particles or carbon fibril aggregates. The catalysts methods of using them to form carbon fibrils and those carbon fibrils are also disclosed.