Melt spinning of single carbon fibre filaments from Alberta oil sands asphaltenes

This project will develop a melt spinning process for producing continuous carbon fibres from Alberta oilsands asphaltenes. Thermal characterization and rheological studies of the as received asphaltenes will indicate their suitability for melt spinning. If necessary, the asphaltenes may be polymerized to form a mesophase. Selected additives will be compounded into the asphaltenes to study their effects on the crystallinity of the carbon fibres after graphitization. The goal is to produce carbon fibres with mechanical properties that are competitive with commercially available polyacrylonitrile and pitch-derived carbon fibres from Alberta oilsands asphaltenes