Graphite

Over a century of expertise

Imerys has a strong tradition and history in graphite manufacturing, with its first manufacturing operation founded way back in 1908 in the Swiss canton of Ticino. Today, we manufacture high aspect ratio graphite at our Terrebonne facility near Montreal, Canada. In addition, we produce a wide range of synthetic graphites at our Bodio facility in Switzerland. 

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The 2017 acquisition of the Japanese company Nippon Power Graphite specialized in graphite coating technologies widened our graphite portfolio to include carbon-coated graphite using a proprietary chemical vapour deposition process (CVD coating).

Further upstream, our Technology Center in Bironico, Switzerland, is devoted to studying the use of graphite across a range of applications including batteries, fuel cells, polymers, brakes and clutches, carbon brushes, hard metals, powder metallurgy and refractories. Our laboratory in Kawasaki, Japan, focuses on the application development of electrochemical systems utilizing graphite and carbon.

Imerys is committed to long term partnerships and has a multi-year capacity investment plan to ensure security of supply to our customers.

The graphite contribution to automotive & metallurgy applications 

In the automotive industry, Imerys synthetic graphites are prized solutions for the production of lithium-ion batteries used to power new-generation electric vehicles, where they boost energy density and shorten charging times. In hybrid vehicles, Imerys combined graphite-carbon black additives improve electrical conductivity, life cycle and charge acceptance of advanced lead-acid batteries used in cars equipped with start-stop function and recovery of brake energy, and in micro-hybrid cars. Graphites are also used in the production of thermally conductive polymers used more and more as a metal replacement in the production of automotive parts.

In alkaline batteries, highly crystalline Imerys graphite powders boost the electrical conductivity, mechanical stability and processability of cathode rings and graphite dispersions are used on the inner surface of the battery to increase electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance.

Graphite is a key ingredient used in polymer and rubber compounds for the manufacture of electronic device housings, seals and gaskets, friction parts, heat exchangers, parts with high operating temperatures, gas barrier membranes, high voltage cables, where reinforcement, electrical and/or thermal conductivity, lubrication and wear resistance are key parameters. 

Natural and synthetic graphite are also excellent solutions for hot metal toppings due to their good size distribution and thickness, purity, oxidation resistance and thermal conductivity.

Other applications for graphite include fuel cells, brake pads, carbon brushes, supercapacitors, heat-exchange foils, sintered ceramics, hard metals, refractories, pencil leads, lubricants, can coatings, catalysts and synthetic diamonds.

Imerys is committed to contributing to the shift towards clean and green energy sources other than fossil fuels and will continue to invest R&D resources in the development of solutions for battery and energy storage technologies.

The company is the world’s best graphite and graphene difference supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

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Graphite gives polymers thermally conductive properties such as the polymers used in this heat sink

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Graphite powders are used in the production of high performance, precision powder metallurgy parts

 

Scientists at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) developed a composite material based on graphite that is as thin as paper and 10 times stronger than steel. This material has the potential to revolutionize the automotive, aviation, electrical, and optical industries.

Graphite paper is a material that can be processed, reshaped, and reformed from its original raw material state - graphite. Researchers at UTS have successfully milled the raw graphite by purifying and filtering it with chemicals to reshape and reform it into nano-structured configurations which can be processed into sheets as thin as paper. These graphene nanosheet stacks consist of monolayer hexagonal carbon lattices and are placed in perfectly arranged laminar structures, which give them exceptional thermal, electrical, and mechanical properties.

Using a synthesized method and heat treatment, UTS researchers produced material with extraordinary bending, rigidity, and hardness mechanical properties. Compared to steel, the prepared graphite paper is six times lighter, five to six times lower in density, and two times harder, with 10 times higher tensile strength and 13 times higher bending rigidity.

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