Natural graphite is something you may not think much about but it is in most peoples lives every day.Graphite is a carbon-based mineral that is naturally occurring. That dark gray black material is used in a variety of products from pencils to industrial lubricants to dietary supplement capsules.
In pencils, natural graphite is combined with clay and molded into solid cylinders. The lighter parts of the clay help to disperse the graphite evenly when drawn across the paper. The graphite is the lead that makes the marks on the paper. Without the graphite, there would be no written words.
In industrial lubricants, natural graphite also plays a crucial role. It is mixed with other substances to create lubricants used in bearings and automobile engines. The lubricants lessen the friction between moving parts, allowing them to work more efficiently. Graphite also helps absorb vibrations, helping machines last longer.
Graphite is also used in medicine, often found in the filling material in dietary supplement capsules. Capsules made of graphite have better thermal stability than other materials, and graphite is also used to allow products to slowly release their ingredients over time.
Graphite provides an excellent balance of properties — and that’s why it is often found in tandem with other substances. Its heat- and electrical-conductivity, paired with its low reactivity and strength, make graphite a valuable industrial and domestic product.
Not only does graphite find its way into many everyday products, but it’s also found naturally in its pure form in certain deposits around the world. The main form of graphite, flaky particles of hexagonal crystalline carbon, is mined from these deposits and then processed further in a variety of ways, depending on what product it is being made into.
Graphite has been utilized in countless industries for many years and is essential in maintaining a higher standard of living. Without it, the wonders of modern technology would be impossible. So the next time you sit down to take notes or start up your car engine, take a moment to appreciate the wonders of natural graphite, that black rock that helps power our lives.
