What Is The Difference Between Natural Graphite And Artificial Graphite

The main difference between natural graphite and artificial graphite is their formation process and properties.

Formation process: Natural graphite is formed deep in the Earth's crust, and it is formed after a long time of high temperature and pressure. Artificial graphite is usually made under artificial conditions by heating carbon materials at high temperatures.

The crystal structure of natural graphite is a layered structure, with each layer connected by a weak van der Waals force, and the atoms within the layer connected by covalent bonds. The crystal structure of artificial graphite also consists of multiple graphite layers, but its structure is more regular and uniform compared to that of natural graphite.

The hardness of natural graphite is low, and it has good electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, lubrication, and high temperature stability. Artificial graphite, because it is more uniform, has higher hardness and mechanical strength, and usually has higher purity and better physical and chemical properties.

Natural graphite is mainly used in pencil lead, lubrication materials, lithium-ion batteries, and other fields, but artificial graphite is more widely used, including high-temperature materials, electrode materials, composite materials, carbon fiber, and other fields.