Graphite is a remarkable, highly versatile industrial mineral classified as a non-metal and widely distributed across the Earth’s surface. Like diamond, graphite is a crystalline form of carbon - one of the four allotropes of this element (distinct molecular structures that occur when carbon atoms are arranged differently according to their chemical bonds), alongside graphene and fullerene.
Chemically stable due to its pure carbon composition, graphite typically crystallizes in a hexagonal structure and, more rarely, in a rhombohedral one. It can also occur in an amorphous form. With a grey-to-black colour and a metallic sheen in its crystalline state (matte when amorphous), graphite is an excellent electrical and thermal conductor. It has a high melting point (3550 °C), a density between 2.1-2.3 g/cm³, and a hardness of 1-2 on the Mohs scale. These properties make it essential for refractory linings in steel foundries, high-efficiency anodes for lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries used in electronic devices and electric vehicles, and as a primary raw material for graphene - the foundation of a new generation of advanced materials.
Graphite was first discovered around 1564 in Borrowdale, England, when lightning struck and uprooted a tree, revealing a grey-black mineral beneath it that left marks upon touch. Because of this property, it began to be used as a “marking stone” - the early form of the modern pencil. Initially, graphite rods were wrapped in string or wood, and in 1795, French inventor Nicolas-Jacques Conté, faced with a graphite shortage, developed a mixture of powdered graphite and clay baked in a kiln and encased in wood - the first true pencil design, still used today.
Synthetic graphite is produced by heating amorphous carbon sources such as calcined petroleum coke - rich in natural benzene rings - in a controlled environment at temperatures between 2300 °C and 3000 °C. The entire heating and cooling process can take from several weeks to months. Synthetic graphite is engineered for high purity and specific properties, though it is less conductive and more expensive than natural graphite. It is primarily used in electrodes for metal refining, particularly in electric arc furnaces for steelmaking, and as large cathodes in aluminium smelting cells. Additional uses include graphite powders, carbon brushes, and graphite fibers for polymer composites. Amorphous natural graphite is used to increase carbon content in iron and steel foundries, for mold-making, and in pencil production. Flake graphite is used to manufacture high-performance refractory materials.
Lithium-ion batteries consist of a lithium cathode and graphite which serves as the anode material, attracting positively charged ions during charging. When ground natural graphite flakes are shaped into spherical forms, they deliver higher energy density and improved charge cycles by reducing exfoliation tendencies - significantly extending battery life.
Graphene, derived from exfoliated graphite, is a revolutionary material approximately 100 times stronger than steel and ten times lighter, with superior electrical and thermal conductivity compared to copper and silver. Composed of a single layer of carbon atoms, graphene sheets are the thinnest material known - essentially transparent. Applications include ultra-resistant protective gear, energy storage systems, desalination membranes, lubricants, surface coatings, and biomedical technologies, many still in advanced research and development phases.
Major graphite mining operations are located in China, followed by India, Brazil, Canada, Mozambique, Russia, and Ukraine. In Romania, graphite deposits exist in Cătălinu and Ungurelașu (Baia de Fier, Gorj County), where reopening for industrial exploitation has been announced.
GritSablare imports and supplies high-purity, carbon-rich graphite from certified sources for foundries, high-temperature coatings, and drilling fluids. The product range includes purified graphite, premium and standard synthetic graphite, natural graphite flakes, amorphous graphite, and calcined petroleum coke. Other foundry materials available include olivine and sodium bentonite. High quality, prompt delivery, and long-term partnerships are the key differentiators that position GritSablare as a trusted leader in the Romanian market for industrial and foundry materials.