Graphite is used in pencils, and now more than ever, it finds its way into technology as a heat transfer medium, conductor, as well as a bunch of other uses most people don’t even consider. But it occurred to me that I never stopped to think about where graphite comes from. I’m assuming it’s mined just like coal, diamonds, or metals are? And as we all know, mining has tons of ecological problems and is generally seen as a “dirty” industry. Does this mean that the use of graphite would pose a similar sustainability problem to other mined materials like metals? Especially since there’s no way I know of to recycle graphite or even to reconstitute graphite fragments into a solid piece without sacrificing many of its properties.
Probably, since it appears to be manufactured mostly from petroleum-based sources:
“Modern graphite manufacture commences with a high molecular weight hydrocarbon, often natural pitch or a residue of crude oil distillation, which is first converted to coke by heating in the absence of air. This is long and complex process, usually taking several weeks to perform.”
You’re right, graphite is mined. I think it’s not terribly hard to synthesize, but idk
I think it’s not terribly hard to synthesize, but idk
I’d imagine it’d be a similar process to lab-made diamonds, that is, completely doable, but expensive and requires tons of energy.
I do think so. Much less expensive than with diamond tho.
I think making pure carbon structures in general require a ton of energy since carbon-carbon bonds are so stable, and that’s where the cost comes from.
Probably… But that makes them so cool :) Still, diamond is much harder; graphite is just glorified coal
