CARBON FIBER AND CATALYST FOR PRODUCTION OF CARBON FIBER

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a catalyst capable of efficiently producing a carbon fiber containing little impurities in high production efficiency (weight increase) of the carbon fiber per catalyst mass, and the carbon fiber having high electric and thermal conductivities and excellent in fillability and dispersibility into resins or the like. SOLUTION: The catalyst for production of the carbon fiber is obtained by dissolving or dispersing [I] a compound containing Fe element; [II] a compound containing Co element; [III] a compound containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, V, Cr, and Mn; and [IV] a compound containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of W and Mo in a solvent to obtain a solution or a fluid dispersion, and then by impregnating a particulate carrier with the solution or the fluid dispersion. By means of a step of bringing a carbon source into contact with the catalyst in a vapor phase, the carbon fiber is obtained which is tubular and in which a graphite layer is approximately parallel with the carbon fiber axis, and a shell is in a multi-walled structure. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT