Diamond is precious, graphite is more expensive Ⅱ

Application of graphite

Graphite can be used to produce refractory materials, conductive materials, wear-resistant materials, lubricants, high-temperature resistant sealing materials, corrosion-resistant materials, thermal insulation materials, adsorption materials, friction materials and radiation proof materials.  High quality graphite electrodes for reference. These materials are widely used in metallurgy, petrochemical industry, machinery industry, electronics industry, nuclear industry and national defense. 

• Refractory

  In the iron and steel industry, graphite refractories are used for refractory lining of electric arc blast furnace and oxygen converter, ladle refractory lining, etc; Graphite refractories are mainly monolithic casting materials, magnesia carbon bricks and aluminum graphite refractories. Graphite is also used in powder metallurgy and metal casting film-forming materials. Graphite powder is added to molten steel to increase the carbon content of steel, giving high carbon steel many excellent properties. 

• Conductive material

  In the electrical industry, it is used as the cathode of electrode, brush, carbon rod, carbon tube and positive electrode of mercury rectifier, graphite gasket, telephone parts, coating of TV picture tube and so on. 

• Wear resistant lubricating material

  Graphite is often used as a lubricant in the machinery industry. Lubricating oil can not be used at high speed, high temperature and high pressure, while graphite wear-resistant material can work without lubricating oil at high sliding speed at - 200 ~ 2000℃. Many equipment conveying corrosive media are widely made of graphite materials, such as piston cup, sealing ring and bearing. They do not need to add lubricating oil during operation. Graphite emulsion is also a good lubricant for many metal processing (wire drawing and tube drawing). 

• Corrosion-resistant material

  Specially processed graphite has the characteristics of corrosion resistance, good thermal conductivity and low permeability. It is widely used to make heat exchanger, reaction tank, condenser, combustion tower, absorption tower, cooler, heater, filter and pump equipment. It is widely used in petrochemical industry, hydrometallurgy, acid and alkali production, synthetic fiber, papermaking and other industrial departments, which can save a lot of metal materials.

• Pyrometallurgical material

  Because the thermal expansion coefficient of graphite is small and can withstand the changes of rapid cooling and rapid heating, it can be used as the mold of glassware. After using graphite, the black metal can obtain the casting with accurate size, smooth surface and high yield. It can be used without processing or slight processing, thus saving a lot of metal. In the production of cemented carbide and other powder metallurgy processes, graphite materials are usually used to make porcelain boats for molding and sintering. The crystal growth crucible of monocrystalline silicon, regional refining container, bracket fixture and induction heater and so on are all processed with high-purity graphite. In addition, graphite can also be used as graphite insulation board and base for vacuum smelting, high temperature resistance furnace tube and other components.

• Atomic energy and national defense industry

  Graphite has good neutron moderating agent and is used in atomic reactors. Uranium-graphite reactor is a kind of atomic reactor which is widely used at present. As the deceleration material in the atomic energy reactor for power, it should have high melting point, stability and corrosion resistance. Graphite can fully meet the above requirements. The purity of graphite used as an atomic reactor is very high, and the impurity content shall not exceed dozens of ppm. In particular, the boron content shall be less than 0.5ppm. In the national defense industry, graphite is also used to make nozzles of solid fuel rockets, nose cones of missiles, parts of aerospace equipment, thermal insulation materials and anti radiation materials.

• Other uses

  Graphite is also a polishing agent and antirust agent for glass and papermaking in light industry. It is an indispensable raw material for manufacturing pencils, ink, black paint, printing ink, artificial diamonds and diamonds. It is a good energy-saving and environmental protection material, which has been used as automobile battery material in the United States. With the development of modern science, technology and industry, the application field of graphite is still expanding. It has become an important raw material for new composite materials in the high-tech field and plays an important role in the national economy.

• (1) Graphite can also prevent boiler scaling. Tests by relevant units show that adding a certain amount of graphite powder (about 4 ~ 5g per ton of water) to water can prevent boiler surface scaling. In addition, graphite coated on metal chimneys, roofs, bridges and pipelines can prevent corrosion and rust.  

• (2) Graphite gradually replaced copper as the preferred material for EDM electrode.

• (3) When graphite deep-processing products are added to plastic products and rubber products, plastic products and rubber products will not generate static electricity. Many industrial products need to have the functions of anti-static and shielding electromagnetic radiation. Graphite products have both these functions. The application of graphite in plastic products, rubber products and other related industrial products will also increase.  

Conclusion

At present, the potential of graphite is still being developed. Graphene produced after layer by layer stripping is the research hotspot of scientists. Graphite will also be in great demand as a raw material for the preparation of graphene. If graphene is a "future material", graphite is the cornerstone of the future. Although it does not shine like diamond, it is "eternal" than diamond，more graphite news visit us.