Accelerate the Development of Production Technology of Graphite to Adapt to the Needs of Markets

Graphite production

China has very abundant graphite resources, and its reserves are the number one in the world. After foundation of People’s Republic of China, graphite industry has developed rapidly.

 China has very abundant graphite resources, and its reserves are the number one in the world. After foundation of People’s Republic of China, graphite industry has developed rapidly. Until foundation, only about 470,000 tons graphite are produced. Until 1988, graphite plants are more than 25, and midium and small plants are more than 100, especially in Pingdu and Laixi Shandong, individual graphite plants are dotted as spots. In 1988, annual national graphite outputs are 300,000 tons. Microcrystalline graphite are 100,000 tons. Our graphite outputs and exporting amounts are both the first one in the world. Graphite products have developed 14 types from the single original raw material. There are about 200 specifications of graphite products.
    Recent years, flake graphite has wide application in international continuous casting and refractory materials, so flake graphite supplies fall short of demands and price increase, which promote our country’s flake graphite development. In Shandong, Inner Mongolia, Helongjiang, Henan, Hebei and other provinces where flake graphite has rich reserves, graphite products reach climax. A graphite heat “graphite whirlwind ”is blown all around the country. If there are graphite weathered mine on the surface, graphite plants are constructed and are under construction. However, most graphite plants lack reliable geological data, and do not have regular mining and design. And indiscriminate digging phenomenon will generate, technical equipment lag behind, and some mining recycling rate is 40%, so our limited graphite resources are wasted seriously. Most of these plants lack technology, funds and management experiments and most of graphite is low and medium carbon mixed mesh products. The product structures are not suitable for market demands. The above problems have attracted relevant nonmetal departments’ attention. At present, in refractory material system, graphite used for crucible production need large flake more than 80 mesh, with carbon content 80~85%. Graphite purity is not an important parameter. But ash content is an important factor. If ash alkaline is too much, crucible will not bear for melting and crucible service time will be shortened. Graphite used in magnesium graphite brick and aluminum refractory materials require strength of 100 mesh, +100 mesh and +80 mesh and carbon content more than 94%. Customer’s different requirements on products need a flexible technical process to satisfy requirements of different particle sizes and grades.