CARBON FIBER AND PROCESSES FOR (CONTINUOUS) PRODUCTION THEREOF, AND CATALYST STRUCTURES, ELECTRODES FOR SOLID POLYMER FUEL CELLS, AND SOLID POLYMER FUEL CELLS, MADE BY USING THE CARBON FIBER

摘要

The invention relates to processes for the (continuous) production of carbon fiber which enable the production of carbon fiber having three-dimensional continuous structure in a short time, more specifically, a process (A) for the production of carbon fiber, characterized by heating a fibrilliform polymer having three-dimensional continuous structure by irradiation with a microwave to carbonize the polymer, and thus obtaining carbon fiber having three-dimensional continuous structure; and a process (B) for the continuous production of carbon fiber with a continuous baking apparatus equipped with a heating chamber (1), a microwave generator (2), and a conveyor (3), characterized by conveying a sheet- or plate-like fibrilliform polymer having three-dimensional continuous structure into the heating chamber (1), irradiating the polymer with a microwave generated by the microwave generator (2) to bake and carbonize the polymer, and thus obtaining carbon fiber having three-dimensional continuous structure.