POROUS CARBON BASE MATERIAL, METHOD FOR PREPARATION THEREOF, GAS-DIFFUSING MATERIAL, FILM-ELECTRODE JOINTED ARTICLE, AND FUEL CELL

A porous carbon base material, which comprises a sheet containing carbon short fibers dispersed randomly and a carbonized resin, wherein the carbon short fibers are bound by the carbonized resin and the volume of pores having a pore diameter of 10 µm or less is 0.05 to 0.16 cc/g; and a method for producing the porous carbon base material, which comprises transporting a precursor fiber sheet comprising carbon short fibers dispersed randomly and a resin intermittently to a space between heated plates, subjecting the precursor to a heating and pressuring treatment by the heated plates while the transformation stops, carrying out the transportation of the sheet after the treatment, and then carrying out a heat treatment, to thereby carbonize the resin in the sheet.