Graphite is a polymorph of the element carbon. It is made up of carbon atoms bonded together in sheets of a hexagonal lattice. It is because of this unique structure that graphite has such a stellar combination of properties. It is flexible, highly refractory, and chemically alert and has high thermal and electrical conductivity. It is used across various industries in refractory applications and crucibles, foundry operations and steelmaking, automotive parts, lubricants and batteries.

Vein graphite, or lump graphite lubricant, is a natural form of graphite which is believed to have hydrothermal origins and occurs in fissure veins or fractures, appearing as massive platy intergrowths of fibrous or needle-like crystalline aggregates. It is believed to originate from crude oil deposits that through time, temperature and pressure have converted to graphite. Graphite in this form is found all over the world.

Vein graphite is used in advanced, thermal and high friction applications such as car brakes and clutches. It is also used in the same way as flake graphite powder for it shows great performance in applications that require high thermal and electrical conductivity. Like flake graphite, vein graphite is valued by carbon content and particle size.

Graphene is a one-atom-thick planar sheet of carbon atoms, densely packed together into a honeycomb shaped crystal lattice. It is a polymorph of graphite. It looks like atomic-scale chicken wire made up of carbon atoms and their bonds. It is the basic structural element of several carbon allotropes including graphite, carbon nanotubes and fullerenes. Many sheets of graphene stacked together are collectively called graphite.

Another polymorph of graphite is carbon nanotubes. When you roll a graphite sheet into a tube shape and you have the carbon nanotubes. These have incredible tensile strength, plus extreme flexibility in the other directions. Very short crystals are trivial to form. Long ones would enable new ultra-high-strength materials. These nanotubes have a variety of diameters. They can also appear to be symmetrical or chiral, with differing mechanical and electrical properties. Also, different diameters can be nested, forming multi-walled carbon nanotubes.