All About Carbon Graphite

What is carbon graphite?

Carbon graphite is an important material in the field of material science. It is the product of carbon combining with graphite in a special form and is a key member of many graphite materials. From a microscopic point of view, the atoms inside are connected by bonds in a unique way to form complex and orderly carbon graphite structures. This structure gives it special performance. Its molecular formula reflects the dominant position of carbon elements in it. And carbon is interwoven with each other in different chemical bonding forms and graphite structure. Thus forming what we call carbon graphite, the carbon content and existing form of graphite have a crucial impact on its properties.

Different types

The types of carbon graphite materials are rich and varied. According to the purity, it can be divided into pure carbon graphite and ordinary carbon graphite containing impurities.

From the perspective of microstructure, carbon graphite with different lattice structures will lead to changes in their physical and chemical properties.

In macroscopic form, in addition to the common carbon graphite rods, there are carbon materials of different shapes such as plates and blocks.

In addition, according to the different production processes, it can be divided into special treatment and non-special treatment.

Carbon graphite under different processes has different properties and applications. Just like different graphite materials will produce unique types after special processing and carbon fusion.

What is the grade?

The grades of carbon graphite are detailed. On the one hand, purity is an important basis for grading. High grade carbon graphite usually has a very high carbon content, close to the state of pure carbon. And the impurity content is very low. On the other hand, the regularity and uniformity of its structure also have a significant impact on the level. Advanced carbon graphite is more orderly and orderly in the arrangement of internal atoms and the distribution of bonds. It makes them perform well in high-end application settings that require strict material quality. Such as aerospace, high-end electronics, etc. Lower grades may be more suitable for some industrial scenarios with relatively low performance requirements.

Machining process

The processing of carbon graphite is a complex and diversified process. In the early stage of processing, raw materials need to be screened and pretreated to ensure the quality. Processing methods include extrusion, molding, turning, grinding and other processes. For example, carbon graphite materials can be squeezed into long strip products with specific cross-sectional shapes. In the process of molding, carbon graphite parts of various complex shapes can be produced according to the shape of the mold. In the process of processing, we also need to consider the hardness, brittleness and other characteristics of it. Besides, we need to select the appropriate tools and processing parameters to ensure the machining accuracy and product quality.

Properties of carbon graphite

Physical properties: It has good conductivity, which is because carbon and graphite themselves have good conductivity. And its conductive mechanism is related to the movement of free electrons inside. In terms of thermal properties, it has certain thermal conductivity and can transfer heat to a certain extent. Its thermal conductivity is related to the structure and composition of carbon graphite. In terms of density,  About the carbon graphite density, the usual range is between 2.09-2.33g/cm3. In addition, it also has certain hardness and wear resistance, so that it can maintain good performance in some environments that need to bear friction.

Chemical properties: It has relative stability in chemistry, and at room temperature. It can resist the erosion of many chemicals. However, chemical reactions can also occur under specific conditions such as high temperature, strong acid and strong alkali. For example, in a high temperature aerobic environment, carbon graphite reacts with oxygen. This balance of chemical stability and reactive activity is an important basis for its application in various chemical environments. And one of the important characteristics of its differentiation from other materials.

Uses of carbon graphite

Electrode fields: In the electrolytic aluminum industry, it acts as an anode material. It can withstand the electrolytic environment of high temperature and strong corrosion, and ensures the smooth progress of the electrolytic process. In the field of eaf steelmaking, carbon graphite is also widely used in the manufacture of rod electrodes. Its good conductivity and chemical stability can effectively conduct current and complete the smelting of scrap steel.

Metallurgical industry: In metallurgical furnace, carbon graphite can be used as an lining material.  It can withstand the erosion and erosion of high temperature metal melt. And at the same time, it uses its good thermal conductivity to help the furnace heat dissipation, to maintain the temperature stability in the furnace. In addition, in the process of smelting some special metals, it can also be used as a reducing agent to participate in chemical reactions to promote the extraction of metals.

Electronic industry: Due to its excellent conductivity and machinability, carbon graphite is used to make electronic components. Such as transistor heat sink, integrated circuit substrate, electron tube graphite anode, etc. In semiconductor manufacturing, it can also be used as a special material to control impurity diffusion and heat management. Commonly seen here are graphite heating elements, crucibles, sintering molds, etc.

Battery industry: Carbon graphite powder is one of the commonly used negative electrode materials for the production of lithium-ion batteries. Its excellent conductivity and stability effectively improve the battery’s charging and discharging efficiency and extend its service life.

Mechanical field: The self-lubrication and wear resistance make it widely used in the field of machinery. For example, in some high-speed mechanical equipment, the use of carbon graphite as bearings, seals, shaft, rings and other parts can reduce friction and wear. This improves the operation efficiency and life of the equipment.

Comparison: carbon vs graphite

In terms of structure, graphite has a regular hexagonal layered structure, with weaker van der Waals forces between the layers. The structure of carbon is relatively complex, because it changes depending on the form and content of carbon. For example, its allotropes, diamond, are regular tetrahedral structures.

In terms of properties, the chemical properties of carbon are relatively lively, while graphite is relatively stable.

In terms of application, graphite can be used as electrode material, lubricant in the chemical industry, and metallurgical industry. Carbon is widely used in fuel, chemical industry, composite materials and aerospace fields.

The price factor

The price of carbon graphite is affected by a variety of factors. Purity is the primary factor. High purity pure carbon graphite is often higher because of its complex preparation process and high raw material requirements. The complexity of production process also has a significant impact on the price. Such as the price of products produced by advanced processing technology. And special treatment technology will be higher than that produced by ordinary technology.

The cost of raw materials is also a key factor. If the source of raw material carbon is scarce or expensive, the price will increase accordingly. In addition, the supply and demand relationship of the market has a direct effect on the price. At the same time, the product specifications and quality grade will also affect the price. High quality, high precision carbon graphite products are usually more expensive.

Conclusion

In short, carbon graphite, as a unique material, combines the characteristics of carbon and graphite. It has complex structure, diverse types, different grades, special processing requirements, unique physical and chemical properties and a wide range of application fields. So it occupies an important position in the field of materials, worthy of our in-depth research and application.