There are four types of graphite used as additives in paint and coating systems, namely, synthetic, flake, crystalline vein and amorphous graphite. Each type of graphite has its own attributes.

Flake graphite, has a flaky morphology. Most flake graphite is formed in a high-grade, environment by the heat and pressure metamorphism of dispersed organic material. Flake graphite gasket is available in purities between 80 and 98 percent carbon. Most processors are also capable of supplying 99% carbon flake graphite through various additional purification methods.

Expandable graphite, this is a synthesized intercalation compound of graphite that expands or exfoliates when heated. This material is manufactured by treating flake graphite with various types of intercalation reagents. If exposed to a rapid increase in temperature, these intercalation compounds decompose into gaseous products, and result in high inter-graphene layer pressure.

Vein graphite, this gets its name from the fact that it is found in veins and fissures in the enclosing ore rock. This variety of graphite sheet is formed from the direct deposition of solid, graphitic carbon from subterranean, high-temperature fluids known as pegmatitic fluids. Pegmatites can form regionally or locally when a subterranean mass of magma cools, or when some other source of geologic energy results in melting of the country rock.

Amorphous graphite, this is the least graphitic of the natural graphites. However, this graphite variety is massive with a microcrystalline structure, as opposed to flake and vein, which both have relatively large, visible crystals. Most commercial-grade material is formed from the contact or regional metamorphism of anthracite coal.

Synthetic graphite, also known as artificial graphite is a man-made product. Synthetic graphite sheets  is manufactured by heat-treating amorphous carbons, calcined petroleum coke, pitch coke in a reducing atmosphere to temperatures above 2500 deg C. At high temperatures, the pre-graphitic structures present in these graphitizable carbons become aligned in three dimensions. The result is the transformation of a two-dimensionally ordered amorphous carbon into a three-dimensionally ordered crystalline carbon.