Thermal Degradation of Polymers to Polymeric Carbon—An Approach to the Synthesis of New Materials

Abstract One hundred years ago, Edison succeeded in preparing carbon fibers for his incandescent lamp bulb by thermal decomposition of natural polymeric fibers. Ten years ago, progress reports about “Novel Forms of Carbon” predicted outstanding properties and promising new applications for the carbonization products of synthetic polymers. Research and development in this field have been promoted by the problems of conventional technology (shortages of raw material and energy, pollution problems). Polymeric carbon materials—prepared by thermal degradation of synthetic polymers—exhibit a special ribbon‐like microstructure. They will provide the chemist with many challenges.