grafito

Grafito, or graphite in English, is a naturally occurring crystalline form of elemental carbon. It forms in metamorphic rocks and as an ore in deposits around the world. In everyday language it is best known for its use in pencils, where a clay-graphite mixture creates a soft “lead” that can mark paper. In industry, grafito is also produced synthetically for high-purity applications.

Graphite has a layered, planar structure in which carbon atoms are arranged in hexagonal lattices. The strong bonds within the layers (sp2 bonds) and the weak forces between layers give grafito its characteristic lubricity and its ability to conduct electricity along the planes while acting as a poor conductor perpendicular to them. At high temperatures in air it oxidizes, but at room temperature it is chemically relatively inert.

Natural graphite occurs in several forms, including flake, amorphous, and lump varieties. Synthetic graphite is produced from carbon-rich feedstocks such as petroleum coke and coal tar pitch through high-temperature processing, and it is engineered for high purity and tailored properties. This makes it suitable for demanding applications in electronics, metallurgy, and energy storage.

Key uses include pencils and lubrication, refractory materials and crucibles, brake linings, and electrodes for electric furnaces. In energy storage, graphite is the predominant anode material in many lithium-ion batteries and remains the subject of ongoing materials research, including graphene-related technologies. Graphite also serves as a neutron moderator in certain nuclear reactors.

Safety and environmental notes: inhalation of fine graphite dust can pose health risks, so dust control and proper handling are important. Mining and processing have environmental impacts that require responsible management. In Spanish and Italian, grafito refers to this same substance.