Process for the intercalation of graphitic carbon employing fully halogenated hydrocarbons

An improved procedure is provided for increasing the electrical conductivity of graphite via intercalation. It has been found that fully halogenated hydrocarbons (as described) have the ability to substantially aid the intercalation of graphite by previously known intercalant mixtures of (a) fluorosulfonic acid, chlorosulfonic acid, or mixtures thereof, and (b) a boron trihalide, a tetrahalide of a Group IV element, a pentahalide of a Group V element, or mixtures thereof. The presence of a fully halogenated hydrocarbon, such as carbon tetrachloride, during the graphite intercalation reaction has been found to expedite the rate at which intercalation takes place and possibly enables the achievement of a greater electrical conductivity than would have otherwise been obtained. In a preferred embodiment the graphite carbon is present within a carbonaceous fibrous material at the time of its intercalation and the resulting product is substantially electrically oriented along the axis of the fiber.