Everyone every day or the
other talks about carbon, and why not? It is a crucial ingredient in numerous
applications, viz. for manufacturing materials, plants' respiration, and a lot
more. Well, we will know about its most stable form, i.e., graphite, and its
varied applications across different sectors. Graphite is used extensively
owing to its versatility & unique properties of both metals &
non-metals, right from the tip of the pencil to a lithium-ion battery.
It is urban developments
& industrialization that have surged the demand for graphite in recent
years across manufacturing & construction industries globally. Due to
graphite's both natural & synthetic properties, coupled with its high
electro-conductivity, malleability, & tensile strength, the manufacturing
industry is extensively exercising its potential in indefinite ways.
Several companies in the
graphite industry, including Imerys S.A., SGL Carbon SE, etc., are rigorously
conducting R&D activities to expand its application further. Furthermore,
the booming Electric
Vehicle (EV) industry is leading to the growing production of lithium-ion
batteries, in which graphite is the key component as an anode, whereas a
lubricant in brake linings & gaskets of the vehicle. It is how graphite is
becoming more & more popular worldwide and yet not stopping. In the blog
ahead, we will see its key applications, varying dynamics across different
geographies, and future directions.
The Most Prominent Aspects
associated with Graphite
As stated earlier,
graphite comes in both natural & synthetic forms. Among the two, the
synthetic one is more utilized globally owing to its high purity levels,
lightweight, excellent thermal & electric conductivity, and better
durability & corrosion resistance than natural graphite. Moreover,
applications of synthetic graphite are also more than the natural ones &
they include foundries, lubricants, refractory materials, electrodes,
recarburizers, & coatings. Besides, synthetic graphite is also being
utilized extensively in steel manufacturing using Electric Arc Furnaces (EAFs).
Graphite's top end-users
include metallurgy, electronics, & automotive sectors, where metallurgy,
which comprises electrodes, refractories, casting, and foundries, remains the
most prominent one. Graphite-based electrodes are used mainly in furnaces for
smelting, steel making, ferroalloy production, & also for making silicon
metal. In applications involving steel molding, various types of aluminum &
graphite compounds are available in the form of nozzles & troughs.
How will Graphite be
instrumental in creating a renewable future?
Scientists have discovered
breakthroughs in renewable sources by using graphene, a derivative of graphite.
Since graphite is the most significant mineral component found in lithium-ion
batteries, graphene is likely to be the hope of renewable energy in the coming
years. It can be well-utilized for electrical components and items like
sensors, batteries,
composites, & ion-exchange membranes, among others.
In addition, it can replace platinum
& also be implemented in biosensing & electronics owing to its strength
& durability. Moreover, since graphene can provide 10 times better energy
charging, it can enhance EV efficiency.
China, the largest exporter of
graphite, is substantially investing in establishing more & more steel
mills that use EAFs. The country's extensive production capacity of UHP
graphite electrodes used in steel manufacturing shall continue creating new
avenues for the leading companies participating in the graphite industry over
the years ahead.
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