Graphite is a soft, black mineral and a natural form of the element carbon, consisting of stacked hexagonal layers that slide past each other, giving it a greasy feel and low friction. Its unique structure makes it an excellent conductor of electricity and heat, yet it is incredibly resistant to heat. Common uses for graphite include lubricants, pencil "lead," refractory materials for furnaces, and components in batteries and brake linings.
Properties of Graphite
Softness: Graphite is a very soft mineral, scoring 1-2 on the Mohs hardness scale, which allows its layers to slide.
Color: It is typically gray to black with a metallic or dull luster.
Electrical Conductivity: Graphite is a non-metal that is a good conductor of electricity and heat.
Thermal Resistance: It has a very high melting point and can withstand extreme temperatures without melting.
Inertness: Graphite is nearly chemically inert and does not react with most other materials.
Structure: Its atoms are arranged in a hexagonal layered lattice, where layers of graphene are stacked on top of each other.
Uses of Graphite
Lubricant: Its slippery, flaky nature makes it a great dry lubricant in applications where wet lubricants cannot be used.
Pencils: The softness of graphite is what allows it to be used for writing and drawing in pencils.
Refractory: Its ability to withstand high temperatures makes it ideal for lining furnaces and making crucibles in foundries.
Batteries: Graphite is used in the manufacture of batteries.
Brake Linings: It is also used in some brake linings.
Metallurgy: Graphite is used to add carbon to iron and steel in a process called recarburising.
What is graphite uesd for?
Graphite is used in pencils, lubricants, crucibles, foundry facings, polishes, brushes for electric motors, and cores of nuclear reactors. Its high thermal and electrical conductivity make it a key part of steelmaking, where it is used as electrodes in electric arc furnaces.
Why is graphite so valuable?
Graphite's low cost, thermal and chemical inertness and characteristic conductivity of heat and electricity finds numerous applications in high energy and high temperature processes.
