What is Flake Graphite?

Flake graphite refers to a type of graphite that occurs naturally in flake or plate-like particles. It is one of the most commonly used forms of graphite due to its wide variety of industrial applications. It has a flat, layered structure that allows it to be crushed or milled into particles of different sizes depending on its intended use. The largest graphite particles are used to manufacture things like lubricants, while finer particles are used in things like refractories and foundry facings.

Applications

Batteries

Within batteries, it is used as the anode material. During the charging process, its layered structure allows lithium ions to easily penetrate between its sheets. Flake graphite has a higher density than other graphite types used in batteries, allowing it to store more lithium ions and giving batteries a longer lifespan. It is a primary material in lead-acid batteries and is becoming increasingly important in lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles.

Lubricants

It is a key component in the production of greases and other lubricants. Its layers can easily smooth over uneven surfaces and fill in gaps, giving graphite lubricants their unique slipperiness. This makes graphite lubricants ideal for extreme pressures and temperatures where other types of lubricants would fail. Industries like steel manufacturing rely heavily on graphite lubricants.

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