Artificial Graphite
Graphite has several industrial applications. It is mainly used in metallurgical industries to manufacture electrodes, refractories and monolithic graphite blocks. It also finds use in Li-ion batteries and nuclear power plants. Other uses of graphite include pencil leads, lubricants, can coatings and catalysts. It is a critical raw material for manufacturing Li-ion batteries, due to its superior energy density, cycling durability and low expansion at high temperature.
Modern synthetic graphite is produced from a high molecular weight hydrocarbon, often natural pitch or a residue of crude oil distillation. The carbon atoms are converted to coke by heating in the absence of air, which causes the carbon to rearrange into extensive hexagonal crystalline clumps known as “Good Coke.” This is then subjected to further processing to produce high quality graphite.
Various methods are used to mould the graphite into shapes and sizes. Extrusion is a process that forms the graphite into large cross sectional shapes, usually rods and blocks. Olmec does not offer this kind of course grain graphite. Vibration moulding is another method of making shaped graphite. This involves shaking, or vibrating the graphite powder in large containers which induces compaction into solids. This is used to manufacture electrodes for steel furnaces.
Graphite is relatively safe in its manufactured and shipped state, but exposure to excessive concentrations of dust or fume may irritate the throat and respiratory tract. Chronic exposure can lead to fibrosis of the lungs, which can be fatal in some cases.
