• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Superior Graphite

Superior Graphite

Coming Soon

EN
EN
CN
MENUMENU
  • Home
  • Applications
        • APPLICATIONS
        • MENUMENU
          • Engineered Materials
                  • Float Glass
                • Product Lines

                • Product Preview
          • Drilling Material Additives
                  • Drilling Material Additives
                • Product Lines

                • Product Preview

          • Energy/Thermal Management
                  • Advanced Lead-Acid Batteries
                  • Alkaline Batteries
                  • Fuel Cells
                  • Li-Ion Batteries
                  • Thermal Management
                • Product Lines

                • Product Overview

          • Friction Materials
                  • High Resiliency Synthetic
                  • Brake Pad Compressibility
                  • Copper Free Formulations
                • Product Lines

                • Product Preview

          • Metallurgy
                  • Carbon Additives for Ductile Iron
                  • Inoculation in Cast Iron
                  • Melt Cover for Non-Ferrous Metallurgy
                  • Recarburizing for Steel
                • Product Lines

                • Product Preview

          • Polymers
                  • Food Contact
                  • Thermal Conductivity
                  • Tribological Performance
                • Product Lines

                • Product Overview

          • Non-Oxide Ceramics
                  • Advanced Ceramic and Composite Materials
                  • Non-Oxide Ceramic Armor
                • Product Lines

                • Product Overview

  • Applications
    • Engineered Materials
      • Float Glass
    • Drilling Material Additives
      • Drilling Material Additives
    • Energy/Thermal Management
      • Advanced Lead-Acid Batteries
      • Alkaline Batteries
      • Fuel Cells
      • Li-Ion Batteries
      • Thermal Management
    • Friction Materials
      • High Resiliency Synthetic
      • Brake Pad Compressibility
      • Copper Free Formulations
    • Metallurgy
      • Carbon Additives for Ductile Iron
      • Inoculation in Cast Iron
      • Melt Cover for Non-Ferrous Metallurgy
      • Recarburizing for Steel
    • Polymers
      • Food Contact
      • Thermal Conductivity
      • Tribological Performance
    • Non-Oxide Ceramics
      • Advanced Ceramic and Composite Materials
      • Non-Oxide Ceramic Armor
  • Capabilities
    • Green Graphitization Technology
    • Carbon and Graphite Sourcing
    • Consultative Approach
    • Precision Processing
    • Thermal Synthesis
  • Products
    • Desulco®
    • FormulaBT™
    • FormulaFX™
    • FormulaPT™
    • Signature™
    • Sinter-Pur®
  • Innovation
    • Products & Technology in Development
    • Library
    • About Graphite
    • Research & Development Centers
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Mission & Vision
    • Company Officers
    • History
  • Contact
    • Regional Contact Locator
    • Customer Service Centers
    • Manufacturing Facilities
    • Supply Chain Management
    • Supply Chain Management Team
    • Vendors in Partnering (VIP)

Conductive Carbon

Graphite is inherently a very high electrical and thermal conductive material because of its crystalline structure. Thermally purified expanded graphite powder offers superior conductivity under a variety of conditions, and it’s proven to be an especially effective conductive carbon additive for batteries and conductive polymers.

Conductive Carbon for Li-Ion Batteries Reduces Irreversible Loss

Li-ion batteries are used in many applications because of their high energy density, low self-discharge and limited memory effect. This makes them highly capable for stationary energy storage, electric vehicles, military applications and even aerospace applications, not to mention basic electronics. Because Li-ion batteries are so well-suited to these applications, they’ve become widely used in recent years and continue to be developed further.

All Li-ion batteries face an inherent challenge that limits their life span, however. Despite their general benefits, the lithium ions that move between the negative and positive electrodes can cause significant irreversible loss. Standard graphite anode materials consume these lithium ions over time and thereby, reduce a battery’s energy density. The cumulative absorption of ions eventually limits a battery’s density to a point where the battery becomes functionally useless.

Themally purified expanded graphite limits the absorption of lithium ions to extend the lifespan of Li-ion batteries. The process can’t be entirely stopped, but using the right graphite as a conductive carbon additive does greatly slow irreversible loss and substantially extend the life of a battery.

In stationary energy storage, electric vehicles, military applications, and aerospace applications, extending the life span of Li-ion batteries is particularly important.

Conductive Carbon for Advanced Lead-Acid Batteries Reduces Lead Sulfate Buildup

Advanced lead-acid batteries are well established as affordable, reliable, safe and recyclable batteries. Their traits make them widely useful in many different applications, and these are currently the most popular type of energy storage system used today.

If improvements aren’t made in advanced lead-acid battery technology, however, these batteries will soon fall to the wayside in favor of more capable options. While lead-acid batteries meet most of today’s energy storage needs, they won’t meet tomorrow’s needs in their current form. Changes have to be made.

Specifically, advanced lead-acid batteries don’t perform well enough under High-Rate Partial-State-of-Charge (HRPSoC) conditions. These conditions create rapid accumulation of lead sulfate on a battery’s negative plate, and this leads to premature battery failure.

Using thermally purified expanded graphite as a conductive carbon additive minimizes the buildup of lead sulfate, which extends the cycle life of these batteries. In particular, the conductive carbon is particularly useful in HRPSoC conditions like tomorrow’s batteries will require.

At the same time, conductive carbon can also be used to reduce an advanced lead-acid battery’s internal resistivity. The electrical conductivity properties of conductive carbon make it a good choice for improving internal resistance rates.

Conductive Carbon for Alkaline Batteries

Alkaline batteries are a mainstay in energy storage, even if they don’t offer all of the benefits that some other kinds of batteries do. Most alkaline batteries suffer from the following issues.

The positive electrodes in alkaline batteries are commonly made from magnesium dioxide. While this material does have certain positive characteristics, magnesium dioxide isn’t actually a highly conductive material. A lack of conductivity at the positive terminal creates obvious inefficiency within any battery.

This issue can be addressed by adding high purity expanded graphite powder as a conductive carbon. In this application, the conductive carbon additive doesn’t serve as a substitute for the magnesium dioxide electrode. The positive terminal is still made primarily from magnesium dioxide. The conductive carbon is added to the magnesium dioxide in order to improve the terminal’s conductivity.

Conductive Carbon for Thermal Management

Thermal management sheets are widely used in the electronics industry to shepherd heat away from circuit boards, chips and other temperature-sensitive system components. While metals, such as aluminum and copper, have been used in the past, conductive polymers hold more promise for the future.

Aluminum and copper are the most common metals used for thermal management sheets, and they are effective to an extent. However, as the specifications of electronics become more demanding, these metals are becoming less suitable for cooling. They are deficient compared to conductive polymers in two areas.

First, aluminum and copper simply aren’t as thermally conductive as some of today’s more advanced polymers can be. More sensitive electronics and a trend away from fans as cooling mechanisms are creating a growing need for highly thermally conductive materials. Metals aren’t conductive enough in certain situations.

Second, aluminum and copper thermal sheets are heavier than their polymer alternatives. Every bit of weight is vitally important when trying to maximize efficiency in a car or send electronic components into space, and even consumer electronics advertise how few ounces they weigh. Polymers offer greater thermal conductivity at reduced weights.

Conductive carbon additives are, of course, needed to create these thermally conductive and lightweight temperature control sheets. High purity expanded graphite powder is incorporated into a polymer, and the mixture is then pressed into the shape that a thermally conductive foil or sheet needs to be for a particular application.

These thermal management polymers can be used virtually anywhere that metal foils and sheets are used, including in circuit boards, chips and an array of other electronic components.

Get High-Quality Conductive Carbon

For companies that produce batteries and electronic components, we at Superior Graphite have a high purity expanded graphite powder that’s specifically developed for these applications. Our FormulaBT™ and FormulaPT™ product lines consist of conductive graphitic carbon that is specially developed to provide electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity, while simultaneously being lightweight and maintaining good mechanical properties. It is ideally suited for applications in Li-ion batteries, advanced lead-acid batteries, alkaline batteries, and electrical components, polymers and the additive can easily be incorporated into these applications during processing.

To learn more about our FormulaBT™ and FormulaPT™ conductive carbon additives and how it could improve your batteries’ or electronics’ performance and life span, contact us to speak with one of our representatives. We will be glad to answer any questions you have and explain exactly what this conductive carbon could do for your application.

Looking for the shortest path between your requirements and a viable, commercial solution?

Request A Sample

Footer

Superior Graphite

  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Literature

News / Trade Shows

  • Latest Company News
  • Upcoming Trade Shows

Connect

Compliance

  • Safety Management
  • Quality
  • Environment
  • Social Engagement
  • Standard Terms
  • Disclaimer

Search

  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

Copyright © 2023 Superior Graphite, All Rights Reserved

Contact Us.

Enter your comments/questions and click submit to send us an email.

"*" indicates required fields

Opt-in
Please review the Privacy Policy for more information, including how to opt-out of our communications.
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact Us

Enter your comments/questions and click submit to send us an email.

"*" indicates required fields

Opt-in
Please review the Privacy Policy for more information, including how to opt-out of our communications.

Download

"*" indicates required fields

Opt-in
Please review the Privacy Policy for more information, including how to opt-out of our communications.
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sundsvall Plant

Stockviksverken
P. O. Box 13000
S-850 13 Sundsvall
Sweden


Commencement of Operation
July, 1994

Key Technologies
Electro-Thermal Treatment and Purification, Grinding

Major Products Produced
Desulco®, FormulaFX®, Purified Graphites

Factory Space
Total Land: 35,000 m2
Covered Space: 3,500 m2

Quality Programs
ISO 14001 Certified Quality Systems Registered
ISO 9001:2015 Certified Quality Systems
Registered AIMS (Adaptive Integrated Management System)

Hopkinsville Plant

4021 Calvin Drive
Hopkinsville, KY 42240 USA


Commencement of Operation
May, 1977

Key Technologies
Electro-Thermal Treatment, Purification, and Synthesis

Major Products Produced
Desulco®, FormulaFX®, Beta Phase Silicon Carbide, Purified Graphites

Factory Space
Total Land: 66,776 m2
Covered Space: 5,116 m2

Quality Programs
ISO 9001:2015 Certified Quality Systems
Registered AIMS (Adaptive Integrated Management System)
Ford Q1

Chicago Plant #4

4201 West 36 th Place
Chicago, IL 60638 USA


Commencement of Operation
1998

Key Technologies
Grinding, Exfoliation, De-agglomeration

Major Products Produced
FormulaBT™ Energy Materials, MetalPURE™ Graphites, ThermoPURE™, Signature® Products

Factory Space
Total Land: 7,260 m2
Covered Space: 1,780 m2

Quality Programs
ISO 9001:2015 Certified Quality Systems
Registered AIMS (Adaptive Integrated Management System)

Chicago Plant #1

6540 S. Laramie Avenue
Bedford Park, IL 60638 USA


Commencement of Operation
1927

Key Technologies
Grinding, Screening, Custom Blending

Major Products Produced
FormulaFX, Signature®, FormulaBT™, FormulaP™ Products

Factory Space
Total Land: 13,535 M2
Covered Space: 9,480 m2

Quality Programs
ISO 9001:2015 Certified Quality Systems
Registered AIMS (Adaptive Integrated Management System)

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.