A simple and low-cost method of current heating of charcoal was developed to fabricate nanofibers for being used as reinforcements in composite materials. Based on using an arc-discharge apparatus, a common stationery charcoal rod as the source material was heated by moderate current to produce masses of fibers. Morphology, particular structure and chemical compositions of the as-grown fibers were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive analysis of X-rays and X-ray diffraction. The results show that the products are beaded nanofibers with coexistent carbon nanotube and silicon carbide phases in the fibers and stoichiometric alumina and oxides of other trace elements of charcoal additionally in the beads. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.