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.