Conductive Graphite Powder

Conductive graphite powder is a powdery substance made from graphite ore by processing and other processes. It is small and granular and is an indispensable material in many industrial applications. The performance and quality of these graphite powders vary according to different application requirements. Their main components are carbon, which rely on unique structure to achieve conductive function.

How is conductive graphite powder produced?

The production of conductive graphite powder has a strict process. The first is the preparation of raw materials, the main raw materials include:

Natural graphite ore: after mining and preliminary screening.

Additives: for example, specific chemicals are used to regulate the properties of graphite powder.

The production process is to pulverize natural graphite ore first, and then deep processing it through chemical or physical methods.

In chemical methods, some chemical reactions are used to change the crystal structure of graphite to enhance its conductivity. Physical methods include high temperature treatment, which makes the inner structure of graphite more conducive to electron conduction. After a series of treatment, after screening, grinding and other steps, the conductive graphite powder meets the requirements.

Why is graphite conductive?

Graphite conducts electricity because of its unique crystal structure. Graphite is a layered structure. Each carbon atom has four electrons in its outermost shell, and in forming a covalent bond, only three electrons are used, so each carbon atom has one electron that can move freely. These free electrons are able to move freely within the layers, just like free electrons in metals, allowing the graphite to conduct electricity.

Different types of conductive graphite

Powder – expanded graphite powder: after special expansion process, it has a large specific surface area and good flexibility, and can play a conductive role in a variety of complex environments.

Synthetic graphite powder: the purity and performance of graphite powder can be accurately controlled according to the needs.  You can  use it in high-tech fields with high requirements for electrical conductivity.

Natural flake graphite powder: It comes from natural graphite ore and retains the natural flake structure of graphite. This is conducive to the conduction of electrons and has a wide range of applications in some traditional industrial fields.

Physical and chemical properties of conductive graphite powder

In terms of physical properties, it has a certain density and granularity distribution, which will affect its effect in different applications. From the perspective of chemical properties, its chemical properties are relatively stable at room temperature and can resist the erosion of some common chemicals. At the same time, it also has good lubrication, which makes it perform in some application scenarios that need to reduce friction.

Application

In the field of coating, conductive graphite powder can be used to prepare conductive graphite paint.

For refractory, the high temperature resistance and electrical conductivity of the material can be improved.

In the casting industry, it can improve the quality and performance of casting.

As a lubricant, it effectively reduce the friction coefficient.

In the field of battery, it is an important part of electrode material. It can improve the charging and discharge performance of battery.

In electrical components, the circuit can be guaranteed to be good electrical conductivity, to ensure the normal operation of electrical appliances.

Additionally, conductive graphite spray also uses the characteristics of conductive graphite powder and plays an important role in related applications.