Two coal-derived pitch samples, one a medium temperature pitch from a Sasol-Lurgi gasifier and the other from a high temperature coking process, have been heat treated to induce polymerization, both separately and as a mixture of pitches (co-pyrolysis). The initial pitch samples and the heat-treated samples have been examined by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) in 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP), by UV-fluorescence spectroscopy (UV-F), by solid state C-13 NMR; elemental analyses of the initial pitch samples have been carried out. The Sasol-Lurgi pitch showed larger apparent sizes, more alkyl and carbonyl functions, and smaller polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) groups than the high temperature pitch. Co-pyrolysis of the two pitches indicated that polymerized product from the Sasol-Lurgi pitch can be used as an extender for high-temperature binder pitch. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.