Differences and connection between natural and artificial graphite

Graphite can be divided into natural graphite and artificial graphite. The two have similar structures and the same physical and chemical properties, but their uses are quite different. Compared with flake graphite, the market size of amorphous graphite is much smaller, but the market demand exceeds 200,000 tons/year, which cannot be ignored. Amorphous graphite is mainly used in refractory materials and casting products, as well as in the fields of traffic friction products and steel recarbonization, and there are also a small number of application scenarios in the battery field.

Difference and connection between natural graphite and artificial graphite

1. Crystal structure：The crystal development of natural graphite is relatively complete, the graphitization degree of natural flake graphite is usually above 98%, and the graphitization degree of natural microcrystalline graphite is usually below 93%. The degree of crystal development of artificial graphite depends on the raw material and heat treatment temperature. Generally speaking, the higher the heat treatment temperature, the higher the degree of graphitization. At present, the degree of graphitization of artificial graphite produced industrially is usually lower than 90%.

2. Organizational structure: Natural flake graphite is a single crystal with a relatively simple structure, only crystallographic defects (point defects, dislocations, stacking faults, etc.), and macroscopically exhibits anisotropic structural characteristics. The crystal grains of natural microcrystalline graphite are small, the grains are arranged randomly and there are holes after impurities are removed, and it shows isotropic structural characteristics macroscopically. Artificial graphite can be regarded as a multiphase material, including graphite phase converted from carbonaceous particles such as petroleum coke or pitch coke, graphite phase converted from coal tar pitch binder coated around the particles, particle accumulation or coal tar pitch bonded The pores formed after the agent is heat-treated, etc.

3. Physical form: Natural graphite usually exists in the form of powder and can be used alone, but it is usually used in combination with other materials. There are many forms of artificial graphite, including powder, fibrous and block, and artificial graphite in the narrow sense is usually block, which needs to be processed into a certain shape when used.

4. Application field: Graphite has many excellent properties, so it is widely used in metallurgy, machinery, electrical, chemical, textile, national defense and other industrial sectors. The application fields of natural graphite and artificial graphite have both overlapping and different places. In the metallurgical industry, natural flake graphite can be used to produce refractory materials such as magnesia-carbon bricks and aluminum-carbon bricks because of its good oxidation resistance. Artificial graphite can be used as steelmaking electrodes, while electrodes made of natural graphite are difficult to use in harsher steelmaking electric furnaces. In the machinery industry, graphite materials are usually used as wear-resistant and lubricating materials. Natural flake graphite has good lubricity and is often used as an additive for lubricating oil.

Artificial graphite and natural graphite technical route is not clear advantages and disadvantages, more according to their own technical route selection, with the continuous expansion of the power battery market, the comprehensive requirements for material cost, processing performance, energy density, cycle life, fast charging rate and other factors have improved, artificial graphite has become the most important material in China’s anode materials.

Natural graphite often focuses on its modification research when used, improving its own structural shortcomings and improving the performance of products. In the future, affected by the application of new energy vehicles, the value proportion of artificial graphite will continue to rise. If necessary, you can contact our Frarli factory, we will provide preferential price as well as high-quality artificial graphite.