Natural Flake Graphite
Natural flake graphite is a mineral that originates deep within the Earth's crust and upper mantle, formed through the transformation of carbonaceous precursors under significant heat and pressure. Specifically, this type of graphite crystallizes when subjected to pressures around 75,000 pounds per square inch and temperatures near 750 degrees Celsius, conditions characteristic of the granulite metamorphic facies. It manifests as isolated, flat, plate-like particles, displaying hexagonal or angular edges, and is predominantly found within metamorphic rocks such as limestone, gneiss, and schist, where it is evenly distributed across the ore body.
The extraction of these ores hinges on the carbon content within the metamorphic rocks, followed by a series of processes including grinding, acid flotation, chemical purification, drying, sizing, and packaging. Through these methods, natural flake graphite with a graphitic carbon content ranging from 80% to 99% is produced, ready for various industrial uses.
Characterized by its flaky morphology, natural flake graphite appears as distinct flakes, varying in size from microns to as large as 1-2.5 mm. The size of the graphite flake is crucial for its industrial applications, with larger flakes being rarer and more commercially sought after than their smaller counterparts. Consequently, maximizing the production of large flakes is a priority for graphite producers to enhance the commercial value of their deposits.
Market availability of natural flake graphite is differentiated by purity and particle size, catering to a broad spectrum of industrial applications, including use in refractory linings, lubricants, foundry coatings, and notably, in lithium-ion batteries, among others. Each application demands specific purity and size specifications to meet industry standards.
The global supply of natural flake graphite is concentrated in a few key countries, with China leading in terms of production and supply, accounting for approximately 65% of the world's current output. Other significant producers are growing very quickly in the past few years.
Previous page
Next page
Oops!
I can't find the page!
Possible reasons are:
The website may be under maintenance or there may be a program problem.
Back to Home Page