Patent ID: 6916435

Claim:
A process for preparing a graphite article, the process comprising (a) mixing (i) a particulate fraction comprising at least about 35 weight percent coke, coal or mixtures thereof having a diameter such that a major fraction passes through a 25 mm mesh screen but not a 0.25 mm mesh screen, (ii) a pitch binder and (iii) carbon fibers, to form a stock blend; (b) extruding the stock blend to form a green stock; (c) baking the green stock to form a carbonized stock; and (d) graphitizing the carbonized stock by maintaining the carbonized stock at a temperature of at least about 2500 degree C., wherein the fibers are added to the stock blend after at least about 50% of the mix cycle is completed, to produce a graphite article having increased strength and decreased brittleness.