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GRPM5 Sample COA
Graphite powder is very commonly sold alongside iron, copper, and other metal powders because it plays several critical roles in powder metallurgy, metal processing, and industrial applications.
🔧 1) Essential Additive in Powder Metallurgy (Very Important)
Graphite is the primary carbon source used when making steel parts from iron powder.
Why it’s added to iron powder
Steel = Iron + Carbon
Instead of melting steel, manufacturers mix:
- Iron powder
- Small amount of graphite powder
- Lubricants/binders
Then:
- Press into shape
- Heat (sinter)
- Carbon diffuses into iron → becomes steel
Benefits
- Produces strong steel parts without melting
- Precise carbon control
- Lower cost manufacturing
- Used for gears, bushings, automotive parts, tools
👉 This is the #1 reason graphite is sold with iron powder
⚙️ 2) Solid Lubricant (Works Even at High Temperatures)
Graphite’s layered crystal structure lets layers slide easily.
Used to lubricate metal powders during:
- Pressing in dies
- Metal forming
- Machining
- High-temperature operations
- Situations where oil cannot be used
Advantages:
- Works without liquid lubricants
- Stable at high temperatures
- Chemically inert
- Reduces tool wear
🔥 3) Electrical & Thermal Conductivity Additive
Graphite conducts electricity and heat well (though less than copper).
Combined with metal powders to create:
- Conductive pastes
- EMI shielding materials
- Battery components
- Electrical contacts
- Heating elements
🧪 4) Reducing Agent & Metallurgical Processing Aid
Graphite (carbon) can remove oxygen from metal oxides at high temperature.
Used in:
- Sintering atmospheres
- Metal refining
- Foundry operations
- Carbothermic reactions
🧱 5) Improves Machinability of Sintered Parts
Graphite in steel forms structures that:
- Reduce cutting forces
- Improve wear resistance
- Enhance self-lubricating behavior
This is why sintered iron-carbon parts are common in machinery.
⚡ 6) Related Applications with Copper Powders
Graphite is used with copper powders in:
- Electrical brushes (motors, generators)
- Conductive composites
- Sliding electrical contacts
- Thermal management materials
Example: Carbon-copper brushes in motors.
🏭 7) Shared Customer Base
Companies sell graphite with metal powders because the same industries use them:
- Powder metallurgy manufacturers
- Automotive parts makers
- Electrical component producers
- Additive manufacturing (some cases)
- Chemical and materials R&D labs
- Friction materials industry
🧠 Simple Summary
👉 Graphite is not a metal — but it is a critical partner material for metal powders.
Most important relationship:
⭐ Graphite + Iron powder → Steel via sintering
GRPM5 Graphite Certificate of Analysis
Typical COA
Description
| Type: | Natural Graphite |
| Form: | Powder |
| Chemical Class: | C |
| CAS-Number: | Graphite: 7782-42-5 Carbon: 7740-44-0 |
| Product Code: | GRPM5 |
| Lot Number: | CBC071 (from 11039) |
Chemical Analysis
| Test Results % | Min (%) | Max (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon | 95.84 | 95.50 | 100 |
| Moisture | 0.40 | 0.00 | 0.50 |
| Sulfur | 0.14 | 0.00 | 0.20 |
| Surface Area | 11.62 | 9.00 | 15.00 |
Physical Properties
| Apparent Density (Hall) | 0.4 g/cm³ |
Sieve Analysis
| -325 Mesh | 99.99% |
| +325 Mesh | 0.01% |
Microtrac Particle Analysis
| MT10 | 2.75 μm | 10% of particles are smaller than 2.75 μm |
| MT50 | 5.68 μm | |
| MT90 | 10.34 μm | |
| MTMV | 6.27 μm | Mean diameter in micron |
| MTSD | 2.85 μm | Standard deviation in micron |
| MT22M | 99.68% | 99.68% of the particles are smaller than 22 μm |