METHOD FOR PRODUCING NEGATIVE ELECTRODE MATERIAL FOR NONAQUEOUS ELECTROLYTE SECONDARY BATTERY

Provided is a method of producing an anode material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having battery characteristics equivalent to those of a conventional product by simpler production steps than those of a conventional method. A thermally-polymerized petroleum based or coal based pitch is cooled to the softening point or below so that the pitch is solidified to obtain a solidified pitch. The solidified pitch is ground to form a fine pitch powder having an average particle size (median size) of 60 µm or smaller. Then, the fine pitch powder is compression molded at a pressure of 20 to 100 MPa or 0.1 to 6 MN/m to form a porous compression molded pitch. The porous compression molded pitch is subjected to infusibilization treatment.