Graphite refers to minerals that are versatile in practical use. It is usually customary to associate it with dyes, but this is not limited to its capabilities. At the same time, one cannot talk about the universality of the use of this material, since its layered structure also determines the scope of application. And this is not to mention the need to create special processing conditions. The fact is that the melting point of graphite in degrees Celsius can reach 2800 ° C, which requires the use of special facilities for the manufacture of the final product.
Graphite Properties
Among the main operational qualities of this mineral, heat conduction, the ability to act as a conductor of electric current and the softness of the structure are distinguished, which, however, is not always a plus for graphite products. As for thermal conductivity, it can reach 2400 W / (m * K) or more. This indicator depends on the structure and density of the material. It is important to note that graphite, the melting point of which varied in the range of 2500 - 3000 ° C, acquires a softer structure. This may be favorable for the further disclosure of the conductive qualities of the mineral, but heat treatment sharply reduces the physical strength characteristics. As a result, graphite can be as effective as metal in the processes of electrical conductivity, but due to fragility it will be unsuitable for use in conditions of harsh mechanical operation.
Also, the mineral is reactive in contacts with chemically active substances, including salts and alkali metals. True, this depends on the conditions in which graphite is located. A melting point of the order of 2800 ° C (at which the mineral interacts with oxygen) can lead to its combustion before the formation of carbon dioxide.
The melting temperature
The temperature spectrum at which graphite melts can be obtained is very diverse. Much depends, for example, on the ultimate tasks of a given operation. The temperature range is also determined by external conditions, and the characteristics of the composition of a particular mineral, and the use of additional means of influence on graphite during heat treatment. The melting point, at which it is possible to obtain graphite ready for use, varies from 2600 to 3800 ° C. Calvin calculation is also practiced. In this case, it reaches already 4000 ° K, but even this value may increase depending on the pressure indicator. Typically, graphite is melted at a pressure of 105 - 130 bar.
Boiling temperature
The need for heat treatment is determined by the fact that enterprises strive to modify the operational qualities of the material in order to create more efficient products. Less commonly used are methods for bringing the mineral to a boil, but they can also improve certain properties of the structure. The question of what is the melting point and the boiling point of graphite, often involves indicating the same range - from 3800 to 4200 ° C. The lower threshold determines the melting state, and the upper one determines the boiling of the material. Again, depending on the characteristics of graphite and its variety, the conditions of thermal action in terms of obtaining the desired state of the mineral — boiling or melting — may converge.
Production technology
Almost all graphite products undergo processing operations before their final use. The production method determines the type of graphite material. As a rule, the difference in methods is determined precisely by the temperature effect. Thus, by heating a mixture of pitch and coke, Acheson graphite is obtained. The melting and boiling points in this case will be 2800 and 4200 ° C, respectively. The thermomechanical method of processing the coke mixture involves exposure with the same heating parameters - the difference is only in the use of carbide-forming components. The pyrolysis method is distinguished by low rates of heat treatment. In this case, natural graphite is modified from gaseous hydrocarbons in vacuum at 1500 ° C. At the same time, cooling methods for processing base mixtures to obtain graphite are also common. Such technologies include blast furnace, in the process of which slow cooling of cast-iron masses occurs.
Graphite application
The properties of graphite, as already noted, allowed it to be widely used in various fields. It is used in the manufacture of electrodes, pencils, protective equipment, reference measuring materials, and even as a lubricant. The thermal qualities of the mineral determined its usefulness in the composition of furnace structures. For example, lining plates and melting crucibles are made of graphite. But here, much depends on the specific variety in which graphite is present. The melting point of some types of material, which is 2600 ° C, for example, does not allow their use in industrial heat treatment chambers. But electrochemical qualities make it possible to use most graphite products as elements of a conductor infrastructure.
Conclusion
Graphite materials can be considered as a flexible basis for use in various industries. The qualities of electrical and thermal conductivity, although they are adjacent to physical fragility and modest indicators of mechanical reliability, but open up great opportunities for the highly specialized use of the mineral. In terms of industrial processing standards, the melting point of graphite in degrees, which averages 2800 ° C, is not critical. Even small enterprises engaged in the manufacture of electrochemical fittings can afford to organize the melting or boiling process of a material. Another thing is that the production of end products from graphite requires not only heat treatment.