graphit

Graphit is a term that may refer to graphite in German-language contexts and, more broadly, to graphite- or graph-related concepts used as a name in branding and technology. In geology and mineralogy, Graphit most commonly denotes graphite, the crystalline form of carbon with a layered structure. Graphite consists of sheets of carbon atoms arranged in hexagonal lattices. The layers can slide over one another, giving graphite a characteristic softness and lubricity. It is a good conductor of electricity and heat and remains stable at high temperatures in inert or reducing environments. Graphite forms when carbon-rich rocks undergo metamorphism at elevated temperatures and pressures; key deposits occur in metamorphic rocks such as marble and schist, and in some igneous settings.

Applications of graphite are diverse. It is used as the core material in pencils and as a lubricant in industrial contexts. It also serves as a refractory material in high-temperature applications. Graphite electrodes are essential in electric arc furnaces for steel production, and modern lithium-ion batteries rely on graphite-based anodes. In nuclear technology, a form known as nuclear graphite has been used as a moderator in certain reactor designs.

The spelling Graphit is the conventional form in German for the mineral graphite, and the word has been adopted in various branding and software project names to evoke graph-related ideas. See also graphite.