Graphite has long been a key ingredient in steel, castings, lubricants, vehicle brakes, golf clubs, tennis rackets and pencils. But this polymer of carbon which is a chemically identical sibling of both diamonds and coal will become increasingly important in coming years due to its chemical, electrical and thermal properties. Its ability to remain stable in ordinary corrosive environments, conduct electricity and resist heat allow it to serve as a key component in applications such as the storage batteries and nuclear-electricity generation stations that will give us power in the future.
Natural flake graphite is used mostly in what are called refractory applications. Refractory applications are those that involve extremely high heat and therefore demand materials that will not melt or disintegrate under such extreme conditions. One example of this use is in the crucibles used in the steel industry. Such refractory applications account for the majority of the usage of graphite.
Graphite has long been a key component for the aviation, automotive, steel and plastic industries, as well as in the manufacture of bearings and lubricants. High-purity large-flake graphite is essential for the production of the lithium-ion batteries that are crucial to the consumer-electronics industry. Demand for this form of graphite will rise rapidly as production of larger batteries for vehicular propulsion comes online.
Of course, it is expected that a rapidly growing number of automobiles will utilize extensive lithium-ion battery systems to assist with or singlehandedly provide propulsion, which is where the single-greatest increase in expandable graphite demand is anticipated. At present, two percents of all new vehicles sold are gas-electric hybrids, plug-in hybrids or battery-only full-electric drive, most of which still use nickel-metal hydride batteries.
Emerging fuel cell technologies also rely heavily on graphite. One of the more promising types under development, the proton-exchange-membrane fuel cell, requires a hundred pounds of graphite coating per vehicle. Fuel cells will also be used for stationary power generation, as utility providers seek to overcome the inherent inefficiencies around electricity transmission to remote locations.