Graphite is a black mineral that has several uses.
Graphite is a black, lustrous mineral that is formed by crystallized carbon. The term also has other uses and meanings, as described by the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) .
In its structure, graphite has carbon atoms that develop a trio of covalent bonds in a single plane, at an angle of one hundred and twenty degrees. For this reason, it has a hexagon -shaped structure.
Along with fullerenes and diamonds, graphite is one of the allotropy forms in which carbon can occur. It is found in natural reserves and deposits, although it can also be produced artificially. China , Brazil and India are the world's largest producers of graphite.
Uses of graphite
Graphite is used in the manufacture of various elements. Being a refractory material, it is used in the production of crucibles and bricks . It is also used as a solid lubricant and is an electrical conductor.
When combined with a paste, graphite can be used to make pencils and vinyl-like records . Graphite is even used in nuclear reactors and in the manufacture of washers , pistons and other objects used in engineering .
In the case of pencils, it is a mixture of pulverized natural graphite and clay . This mixture is baked to give it the necessary hardness.
Pencils are often made from graphite.
Natural or synthetic
Specifically, in addition to all that has been underlined, we can say that we are dealing with two clearly different types of graphite. Thus, firstly, there is the so-called natural graphite , which began to be exploited in the mid-16th century when the first mine of this material, which was unknown until that time, was discovered.
This element, which was originally known as plumbagine due to its lead-like colour, is mainly characterised by the fact that it is made up of crystalline aggregates. However, this characteristic should also include the fact that it has various impurities and imperfections in terms of its shape.
Secondly, we find synthetic graphite , which is identified as graphite-type carbon. It was at the beginning of the 20th century that this type of material was first prepared, which certainly marked a before and after in the world of graphite applications, as it opened up a range of possibilities.
Acheson graphite
It should also be noted that the term Acheson graphite is often used in this field. This is a term used to refer to pure synthetic graphite produced by subjecting silicon carbide to high temperatures.
Edward Goodrich Acheson , who began working along these lines in 1893 , was the one who discovered this process and its subsequent results.
Other meanings of the term
The word graphite, in other senses, can be used to refer to text or illustration created by hand in ancient times .
The term, on the other hand, refers to those signs or posters that are posted on a wall in a circumstantial manner.