This book was begun after three of the present authors gave a series of
in- vited talks on the subject of the structure and properties of carbon
filaments. This was at a conference on the subject of optical
obscuration, for which submicrometer diameter filaments with high
length-to-diameter ratios have potential applications. The audience
response to these talks illustrated the need of just one scientific
community for a broader knowledge of the struc- ture and properties of
these interesting materials. Following the conference it was decided to
expand the material presented in the conference proceedings. The aim was
to include in a single volume a description of the physical properties
of carbon fibers and filaments. The research papers on this topic are
spread widely in the literature and are found in a broad assortment of
physics, chemistry, materials science and engineering and polymer
science journals and conference proceedings (some of which are obscure).
Accordingly, our goal was to produce a book on the subject which would
enable students and other researchers working in the field to gain an
overview of the subject up to about 1987.