How Artificial Graphite Is Made

The manufacture of Artificial Graphite has several methods. The first is extrusion molding, which is used to produce electrodes and other products that require a uniform cross section. In this process, the mixture is cooled to about 125°F before the binder pitch solidifies. This process produces a bulk graphite that is extremely pure. However, it involves higher labor and processing costs than the other two methods. The third method is more complex, but it yields bulk graphite with fewer impurities.

The second method involves machining the graphite article to produce a shaped product. Graphite can also be shaped with other physical processes. In the latter case, it is necessary to apply a protective coating of coke to the article. This process produces a shaped article that is suitable for a variety of uses.

A third method involves the use of electrical current to generate heat in a ceramic furnace. This technique can be used in a closed analytical balance. The heating and cooling rates used in this process can vary significantly. Generally, temperatures between two thousand and three thousand degrees Celsius are used. The total time spent at these temperatures depends on the artifact’s size. The main effect of graphitization is molecular rearrangement, which results in a more ordered graphitic structure. This process also imparts high thermal shock resistance.

Another method involves adding binder to the carbon-based filler and undergoing heat treatment. The process is typically carried out at 2500 to 3000 degrees Celsius, but higher temperatures can result in a more natural graphite structure. Unlike natural graphite, artificial graphite is a multi-phase material. It can be derived from a mixture of carbon-based fillers and particles in a process called carbonisation.