Small angle neutron scattering (SANS) and nitrogen BET experiments were carried out on coal chars produced in experimental rigs simulating blast furnace pulverized coal injection conditions. From these combined data the main structural features of the chars such as surface area, ratio of open to closed pores and estimates of pore size were obtained. This approach to investigating the pore structure should provide much more detailed and useful data for characterizing industrial carbonaceous samples than traditional methods based only on degree of burnout and/or BET surface area.