Preparation of Novel Isotropic Pitch with High Softening Point and Solvent Solubility for Pitch-based Electrospun Carbon Nanofiber

The novel isotropic pitch that exhibits both high solvent solubility (100% soluble in THF) and a high softening point (over 200°C) was successfully synthesized by the bromination of 2-methylnaphthalene followed by dehydrobromination/polymerization and extraction in n-hexane to eliminate lighter constituents. The molecular structure of the pitch was relatively linear with flexible methylene cross-linkages between naphthalene molecules. During bromination, a reaction temperature of 180°C was necessary to induce bromine substitution of methyl hydrogen. Methylene cross-linkages were formed after the dehydrobromination reaction. The obtained pitch is a suitable precursor for electrospinning and meltspinning to prepare carbon nanofibers and carbon fibers, respectively. Keywords: Pitch, 2-methylnaphthalene, Bromination, Dehydrobromination, Electrospinning, Carbon nanofiber, Meltspinning, Carbon fiber.