[Chemical Knowledge]：The nature of carbon, use, upstream and downstream raw materials, storage methods, carbon generally has four states

Carbon's properties

Carbon materials, including graphite, carbon black, activated carbon, etc., are widely used in many fields due to their unique structure and diverse physical and chemical properties. Carbon materials have high electrical and thermal conductivity, which is mainly due to its unique sp2 hybrid orbitals formed by the hexagonal network planar structure. Carbon materials usually have high chemical stability, high temperature resistance, strong corrosion resistance, and high mechanical strength. The layered structure of graphite makes it have good lubrication performance, and the high dispersion and adsorption of carbon black make it have an important position in many industrial applications.

Carbon's main purpose

Carbon materials are widely used in industry. Graphite is widely used in electrodes, lubricants, refractory materials and casting molds. Its high electrical conductivity makes it a core material for batteries, supercapacitors and electric arc furnace electrodes. Carbon black is mainly used as a reinforcing agent for rubber products, such as tires, seals, shock absorbers, etc. Activated carbon is widely used in air purification, water treatment, decolorization and deodorization because of its excellent adsorption performance. Carbon fiber is popular in aerospace, automotive manufacturing and sporting goods due to its high strength and lightweight properties.

Carbon upstream and downstream raw materials

The production of carbon materials involves a complex upstream and downstream industrial chain. The main upstream raw materials include coal, petroleum coke, pitch coke, etc. These raw materials are processed by high temperature cracking, carbonization and graphitization to generate various types of carbon materials. For example, the production of graphite electrodes requires high quality petroleum coke and coal tar pitch as binders, which are made through the steps of kneading, molding, calcination and graphitization. Downstream involves applications in different industrial fields, such as metallurgy, battery manufacturing, chemical industry, electronics, environmental protection, etc., covering a wide range.

Carbon production process

The production process of carbon materials is complex and diverse. Graphite materials are usually made of natural graphite or artificial graphite, which are prepared by high temperature treatment and mechanical processing. Natural graphite needs to be purified by flotation, pickling and heat treatment, while artificial graphite is treated by carbonization and graphitization. The production of carbon black is mainly through the cracking method and combustion method, which decomposes liquid hydrocarbons under high temperature and anoxic conditions. Activated carbon is required to go through a two-step process of carbonization and activation, using physical or chemical methods to improve its specific surface area and pore structure.

Carbon storage method

Storage of carbon materials requires consideration of their physical and chemical properties. Carbon materials such as graphite and carbon black have high moisture absorption and should be kept dry during storage to avoid moisture and oxidation. Especially activated carbon, due to its strong adsorption, should be sealed storage to prevent the adsorption of moisture and impurities in the air. Carbon materials should avoid contact with strong oxidants, acids and other chemicals to avoid chemical reactions. The storage environment should be well ventilated, avoid direct sunlight and high temperature, and ensure the long-term stability of the material.

Carbon Material Market Prospects

With the continuous expansion of technological progress and application fields, the market demand for carbon materials continues to grow. Especially in the field of new energy, such as lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors, the demand for graphite and activated carbon has increased significantly. The application potential of carbon fiber in the field of lightweight and high-performance materials is huge, which promotes the rapid expansion of its market share. The implementation of environmental protection and energy conservation and emission reduction policies has also promoted the widespread use of activated carbon in the air and water purification market. In the future, with the emergence of more emerging technologies and application scenarios, the carbon material market is expected to usher in a broader development prospect.

Conclusion

Carbon material plays an important role in modern industry because of its unique physical and chemical properties and a wide range of applications. Through the detailed analysis of its properties, uses, upstream and downstream raw materials, production processes and storage methods, we can see the key role and development potential of carbon materials in different fields. In the future, with the continuous progress of technology and the increase of market demand, carbon materials are expected to play an important role in more emerging fields and promote the innovation and progress of related industries.