At Coidan Graphite, we’re experts in bespoke graphite machining and advice, with decades of experience in the industry. We work across sectors, supporting a variety of industries with graphite products manufactured for their specific needs and pushing ourselves to go beyond what is currently possible to seek out new applications.
One of our most constant and thriving sectors to provide our graphite solutions to is the construction industry. An ever-present and constant industry that continues to thrive as demand increases globally, the construction industry is a key concern for Coidan, and we’re always assessing how we can better provide graphite solutions to them. But how is graphite used in the construction sector, and what role does Coidan play in supplying machine graphite products?
What is graphite?
We’re a graphite manufacturing company. That means carbon and graphite are our top priority. We live and breathe it from solid carbon to graphite electrodes. So, what is graphite? Graphite is a form of carbon, just as diamonds are. It’s an odourless, tasteless, and non-toxic material that is a naturally occurring form of the element. It’s exceptionally useful in a variety of industries due to the way in which its atoms form in a hexagonal pattern, creating a lattice that makes it extremely durable. To find out more about Graphite, its properties, its production, and its usages, you can explore this article from Coidan Graphite: Breaking Down Graphite.
How is carbon graphite made?
There are two forms of graphite you may hear about within the construction industry: natural and synthetic graphite. Naturally, graphite is mined in countries like China and Brazil. It’s found in different forms, including flake graphite, and is often used in steelmaking.
Synthetic graphite is what we specialise in at Coidan Graphite. It’s formed using an industrial process following five steps:
- Raw material preparation
- Mixing and moulding
- Baking
- Graphitisation
- Machining
After this process, it’s usually stored in two forms: Electrodes and graphite blocks.
What are the properties of graphite?
Graphite is so useful in several sectors due to its wide range of interesting properties, such as its ability to be an excellent conductor of electricity. If you’d like to find out more interesting facts about carbon, you can visit our blog ‘9 Fascinating Facts About Carbon’ here.
Additionally, its layered structure reduces wear and tear in machines by reducing friction, making it perfect for use in factories and in machining equipment. Graphite is also heat-resistant, so it’s often used in steelmaking and melting metals. Finally, even though it is a lightweight material, it is incredibly strong, which is part of the reason it’s a common material in several sectors, including the aerospace industry. Find out more about how Coidan Graphite supports the aerospace industry with graphite production on our site here. The combination of properties, such as its heat resistance and low weight, means it’s the perfect material for turbine blades and bearings.
How is graphite used in the construction sector?
The construction industry is massive within the UK, employing between 2 million and 2.1 million people and contributing around £140 billion to the UK economy. Globally, it is even larger, making it one of the key industries for any business within material production and solutions providers.
Graphite is used across the construction sector, from the making of materials to finishing builds. But why is graphite so good for the construction sector?
The benefits of graphite in construction
- It makes parts lighter, meaning the final build is lighter. This is useful for transportation of materials and for the build itself, as well as ensuring safer final products.
- It’s a safe option. Graphite is both safe and non-toxic as a material, meaning it won’t harm either those working in the construction industry or those living, working, and existing within buildings that have used graphite. This is the same for natural graphite and synthetic graphite – although we wouldn’t recommend that you ingest it!
- Graphite is easy to make. Graphite (as Coidan Graphite knows well) does not require an extensive process to craft the material, and it doesn’t use a lot of the world’s resources. There are even ways to ensure that there are sustainable methods used within the production of graphite and renewable solutions found, limiting its environmental impact. For Coidan Graphite, a part of this process is the production of green graphite electrodes. This involves recovering used or damaged electrodes and reconditioning them into green graphite electrodes, reducing the energy needed to make high-quality electrodes and stopping extra waste creation. If you’d like to find out more about your green graphite electrode solution, you can read more here.
- Graphite can block electromagnetic rays. These are harmful as they can cause ionisation, leading to cancer. Graphene (a form of carbon with a two-dimensional lattice arrangement) is capable of blocking EMIs – explore more about this here. Because of this, while work is still being done, it’s thought that graphite in buildings could shield us from electromagnetic radiation.
- It’s extremely heat conductive. Due to the material properties of graphite, its use in construction could prevent hot spots in buildings. Hot spots can damage materials, drive up energy costs, and become uncomfortable for the people living in the building. For places home to vulnerable people (such as hospitals and care homes), this is concerning as it can cause health issues.
- Graphite is easy to work with! One of the main considerations for graphite’s use in the construction industry is that it is easy for builders to use, mixing well with other ingredients. When mixed with cement and clay, it doesn’t react.
The manufacturing of materials
The two main graphite products used in production are graphite powder and graphite sheets.
Graphite powder
Graphite powder is one of the most popular industrial forms of graphite. With sub-fine particles, it has a high volume of applications, especially within construction. It’s often added into concrete (a safe solution as it doesn’t react when mixed in) and improves the material’s compressive and tensile strength, reducing porosity. In specialised concrete (as well as flooring and coatings), it’s used to prevent static buildup.
Additionally, graphite powder can improve thermal and fire resistance of materials and products within production, such as furnace linings, kiln construction, and the creation of fire-resistant materials.
For products that need low-friction lubrication, graphite powder is often seen as a great solution. One of these specialised cases is marine coatings for boat bottoms.
See what else graphite powder can do here.
Graphite sheets
Graphite sheets are advanced TIM (thermal interface materials) that are primarily chosen for their thermal conductivity, flexibility, and lightweight properties. They’re often used instead of thermal grease and thermal paste to improve conductivity between the heat source and heat sink.
In the construction industry, they’re used in sealing and gasketing, as well as fireproofing. But primarily, within the construction industry, graphite sheets are used for structural reinforcement. They add durability to building materials, improving overall structural integrity while not adding much weight.
See the incredible variety of graphite sheet uses from the construction industry and beyond here.
Extra uses for graphite in construction
Graphite bushings and bearings are great products in gypsum plasterboard dryers. These plasterboards are reliable, adaptable, and low-cost, meaning they are used around the world and need high-volume production that companies can trust. These bearings help support the rollers used when the board travels as they’re drying. Carbon’s high heat resistance makes it perfect for these uses. Additionally, they’re self-lubricating and have a high melting point.
How can Coidan support you with your graphite needs?
If you’re looking for a reliable machined graphite solution and product supplier, Carbon Graphite is a leading business for brands globally, across sectors. We’re uniquely familiar with the needs of the aerospace, defence, and manufacturing sectors, meaning we understand exactly what you need to improve your production and ensure the best results. Plus, our wealth of expertise means we can cross-fertilise ideas from one industry to another, delivering cost savings to our customers.
Our systems enable us to deliver on time and to spec, with a ‘measure twice, cut once’ approach, meaning we are incredibly precise, with low waste and lower costs to our clients.
If you’re interested in finding out what Coidan Graphite can do for you and your construction business, it’s time to get in touch today. Our team is on hand to deliver expertise and support whenever you need it.