Applications of graphite

Dr. Dmitri Kopeliovich

Graphite properties determine the variety of the areas of its applications in industry, transport, energetics, defence, medicine, science, sport.

The most important graphite properties:

• High thermal resistance;
• Low friction and self-lubrication;
• High electrical conductivity;
• High thermal conductivity;
• Low wettability by liquid metals;
• High resistance to neutron radiation.

Most applications utilize unique combinations of graphite properties, such as thermal resistance and elecrical conductivity or thermal conductivity, self-lubrication and low wettability by liquid metals, etc.

Applications of graphite:

• Carbon brushes (electrical conductivity and low friction and self-lubrication).
  • Carbon brushes for electrical motors are manufactured from high purity synthetic graphite.
  • Copper-graphite and silver-graphite impregnated composites are used in applications where high electrical conductivity is required: railway technology, wind turbine generators, tacho generators.
• Refractories (thermal resistance, thermal conductivity and low wettability by liquid metals).
  • Magnesia-carbon bricks for lining steel making furnaces contain up to 25% of graphite.
  • Alumina-carbon composites are used in ladles for liquid steel, pouring nozles, sliding gates.
  • Clay-graphite and silicon carbide-graphite composites containing natural coarse flake graphite are used for manufacturing thermocouple and heater tubes, foundrty tools and crucibles for melting non-ferrous metals.
  • Facing sand in Sand casting contains flake graphite to prevent stickin of sand particles to the casting surface.
• Electrodes for electric arc furnaces (thermal resistance and electric conductivity).
• Molds for continuous casting from isostatically pressed graphite(thermal conductivity, thermal resistance, low friction and self-lubrication, low wettability).
• Lubricants (low friction and self-lubrication).
  • Graphite powder as a solid lubricant.
  • Graphite powder added to oils and greases.
  • Polymer coatings containing graphite powder.
  • Bronze-graphite composites for sliding bearings.
• Friction materials (low friction, self-lubrication, thermal conductivity, thermal resistance) contain up to 15% graphite powder for controlling coefficient of friction and dissipation of friction energy.
  • Clutches.
  • Brake drums and pads.
• Graphite foil (thermal resistance, chemical resistance) is made of a graphite powder treated by sulfuric acid and rolled to a required thickness. Graphite foil is used for manufacturing high temperature gaskets and packages.
• Cathodic material in zinc-carbon and lithium-ion batteries (electrical conductivity and chemical resistance) contain fine high purity graphite powder.
• Moderators in nuclear reactors (resistance to neutron radiation, thermal resistance).
• Carbon fibers for Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites (high strength, low density). Automotive, marine and aerospace parts, sport goods (golf clubs, skis, tennis racquets, fishing rods), bicycle frames are made of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites.
• Carbon-Carbon Composites (low CTE, high Modulus of Elasticity and strength, low density). High performance braking systems, refractory components, hot-pressed dies, heating elements, turbojet engine components.
• Pencils (low friction) consist of a mixture of microcrystalline graphite and clay.

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• Classification of carbon materials
• Graphite
• Graphite manufacturing process
• Machining graphite and carbon
• Graphite molds for continuous casting
• Synthetic diamonds
• Carbon nanotubes - applications
• Graphite as solid lubricant
• Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites
• Carbon-Carbon Composites

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to Carbon materials