Pitch, foundations

Thus, the 2nd fiber category encompasses carbon and carbonized polymers. The foundation materials of this group are the heat convertible, fiber forming polymers, the most common of which today is PAN (polyacrylonitrile). Others are rayon, PBI, and pitch tar. One of the earliest to report results of PAN pyrolysis was Goodhow, et. al.(5i) in 1975. Later, in 1979, Fischbach and Komaki(5 and Brehmer, et. al.(di) in 1980 reported on the electrical properties of carbon fibers made fi om various polymers and described a dependency of resistivity upon the heat treat temperature (HTT) employed to carbonize the fiber which is now well known. The studies by Swift, et. al(52) in 1985 and more recently reported herein were undertaken to expanded upon this base of knowledge and to initiate studies of the stability of the electri properties of fibers made on commercially viable platforms. These studies have led to a launch point for what is believed to have been the first, relatively large scale, commercial application for partially carbonized PAN fibers(50), as resistive carbon fiber based static eliminator brushes. 

Krumhansl, C. 1990. Cognitive Foundations of Musical Pitch. Oxford, U.K. Oxford University Press. 

---