Synthetic Graphite Production Acheson Process

The Acheson process is used to produce synthetic graphite, typically by heating carbon-containing materials at high temperatures.

• Raw Material Preparation: Petroleum coke or other carbon-rich materials are mixed with a binder like coal tar pitch. The mixture is shaped into desired forms, such as blocks or rods.
• Placement in Furnace: The shaped carbon material is packed with a sand-like material (silicon carbide) in an electric furnace to help control the temperature during heating.
• Heating (Graphitization): An electric current is passed through the furnace, heating the material to temperatures around 2500-3000°C. At these temperatures, carbon atoms rearrange into graphite's crystalline structure.
• Cooling: The material is slowly cooled down over a period to ensure proper crystallization. Rapid cooling can cause cracking or defects in the graphite structure.
• Graphite Extraction: Once cooled, the synthetic graphite is removed from the furnace, with impurities being brushed or blasted off.
• Final Processing: The synthetic graphite may undergo further shaping, cutting, or purification, depending on its intended application, such as electrodes or battery-grade graphite.