Flexible Graphite
Category: Flexible Graphite Sheet, Flexible Graphite Sheet Roll, Flexible Graphite Foil Sheet, Reinforced Graphite Composite Sheet.
Specifications: Roll thickness 0.028-1.6mm, sheet thickness 0.028-3mm, composite sheet thickness 1-3mm. Customized sizes are available based on customer requirements.
Rebound Rate: ≥10%
Delivery Time: 1-2 weeks, depending on order quantity.
Flexible graphite is produced by chemically treating natural graphite powder to obtain graphite intercalation compounds, which are then expanded at high temperatures to form expanded graphite. This material is processed through methods such as pressing, high-temperature roasting, and impregnation to create dense foils or sheets. It retains the excellent properties of natural graphite while adding unique flexibility, rebound properties, and sealing capabilities. Flexible graphite products and sealing products are widely used in valves, pumps, and reaction vessels under high temperature, high pressure, and corrosive media. Recently, flexible graphite has been commonly used in the manufacture of fuel cell bipolar plates. In addition to retaining graphite’s electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and corrosion resistance, its simple preparation process makes it an excellent material for reducing the cost of bipolar plates.
As a professional supplier of graphite products, AGRM will recommend and provide the most suitable grades for different fields. Additionally, we offer various surface treatments to meet specific requirements. We welcome you to share your exact needs with our team.
What is Flexible Graphite?
Flexible graphite is a type of graphite material that can be processed and bent, characterized by its flexibility and wearability. Also known as expanded graphite, it is made by removing impurities from natural flake graphite. After strong oxidation treatment with mixed acids, it becomes oxidized graphite. When heated, oxidized graphite decomposes, releasing carbon dioxide and rapidly expanding, turning into loose, soft, and flexible flexible graphite.
Due to its unique preparation process, flexible graphite has slightly different properties compared to other types of graphite materials. It has a lower density, excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, and a certain degree of chemical stability.
Flexible graphite is typically made into sheets and then pressed into sealing packing using molds, which can be used to manufacture seals, thermal pads, conductive pads, and vibration-damping pads, and can also be used to produce various high-temperature insulation materials and electromagnetic shielding materials.
Main Features:
- Excellent Heat and Cold Resistance
Flexible graphite can withstand temperatures from -270°C to 3650°C (in non-oxidizing gases) with almost no change in physical properties and can be used in air up to around 600°C.
- High Rebound Rate
When shafts or sleeves exhibit radial runout due to manufacturing or installation eccentricities, they have sufficient floating properties. Even if cracks develop in the graphite, it can still maintain a tight fit to prevent leaks.
- Good Self-Lubricating Properties
Like natural graphite, flexible graphite layers slide easily under external forces, providing lubrication and good wear resistance with a low friction coefficient.
- Excellent Chemical Corrosion Resistance
Flexible graphite is only corroded in strong oxidizing media such as nitric acid and concentrated sulfuric acid while showing almost no corrosion in other acids, alkalis, and solvents.
Categories of Flexible Graphite Products
As a leading graphite electrode supplier, AGRM has nearly 20 years of experience in customizing graphite products, ensuring product dimensions within drawing tolerances. Please contact our engineers for more personalized solutions if you have any requirements.
Flexible Graphite Sheet Roll
- A foundational material for manufacturing various graphite composite sheets, graphite strips, packing, and sealing gaskets.
- This material is made from natural flake graphite that has been chemically treated and expanded at high temperatures, without adding any resins or binders.
- It features high-temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, radiation resistance, low creep relaxation rate, and good flexibility.
Flexible Graphite Sheet
- Made from high-quality flake graphite that has been chemically treated and expanded at high temperatures, featuring high-temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, and radiation resistance, suitable for acids, alkalis, steam, solvents, and oils.
- Flexible graphite sheets are the foundational material for manufacturing various graphite composite sheets, graphite strips, packing, and sealing gaskets.
- The operating temperature of flexible graphite sheets ranges from -200 to 3000°C.
- AGRM's sealing series graphite sheets can be cut into gaskets of various shapes, widely used in containers, boilers, pipelines, and pumps in the petrochemical and mining industries. Fine graphite powder sheets are widely used as conductive materials due to their stable properties.
Flexible Graphite Foil Sheet
- A high-quality sealing material for transporting liquids, gases, steam, chemicals, and corrosives at high temperatures and pressures.
- Made from high-purity, high-crystallinity natural flake graphite, treated with special acids and heat to produce expanded graphite crystals, which are then rolled into foil without the need for any resins or binders.
Reinforced Graphite Composite Sheet
- Made from natural high-carbon flake graphite that is chemically treated and expanded at high temperatures, then combined with a metal tooth plate, metal mesh plate, or metal flat plate and pure graphite paper through a pressing process to create a sealing material.
- Common forms include reinforced with tooth plates, mesh plates, and flat plates.
- Features thermal stability, high strength, and no cold flow characteristics.
- It can be made into various round and complex geometric shape gaskets, such as level gauge gaskets, cylinder gaskets, exhaust pipe gaskets, and ribbed heat exchanger gaskets, with extensive applications.
Specifications
| item | Class A | Class B | Class C | Class D | Class E |
| Carbonaceous（%） | ≥99.5 | ≥99.2 | ≥99 | ≥98.5 | ≥98 |
| Sulfur content（PPM） | ≤200 | ≤500 | ≤1000 | ≤1300 | ≤1500 |
| Chlorine content（PPM） | ≤20 | ≤30 | ≤40 | ≤45 | ≤50 |
| Density tolerance（g/cm3） | ±0.03 | ±0.03 | ±0.04 | ±0.05 | ±0.05 |
| Thickness tolerance（MM） | <1±0.03;1-1.5±0.05；>1.5±0.1 | ||||
| tensile strength（MPA） | ≥4.0 | ||||
| compression ratio（%） | ≥40 | ||||
| Rebound rate（%） | ≥10 | ||||
| Product specifications | |||||
| thickness(mm) | width(mm) | length(mm) | density（g/cm3） | ||
| Roll material | plate | 42~1500 | 1~910 | 0.7~1.8 | |
| 0.028-1.6 | 0.028-3 | ||||
AGRM Flexible Graphite Products Highlights
- Outstanding Flexibility and Sealing Ability
Inherits the inherent properties of graphite.
Offers exceptional softness and excellent sealing capabilities.
Easily cut into any shape for convenient processing.
- Unique Acid and High-Temperature Resistance
Raw materials use high-quality flake graphite.
Reduces product porosity and increases sheet density.
Features unique acid resistance and high-temperature resistance.
Suitable for most chemical media.
- Excellent Self-Lubricating Performance
Increases product strength and improves wear resistance.
Ensures a highly stable structure.
Effectively reduces wear and extends the service life of graphite sheets.
- Wide Applications in the Sealing Industry
Used to manufacture sealing washers, sealing rings, and other sealing components.
Offers good sealing performance and adaptability to various sealing conditions.
Ensures a perfect fit between sealing components and sealing surfaces, even on rough or uneven surfaces.
Application
Seal Manufacturing
Widely used in mechanical seals and static seals in areas such as water pumps, compressors, automotive engines, and vacuum equipment.
Thermal Material Manufacturing
Used as thermal materials to absorb or dissipate heat, with extensive applications in aerospace, electronics, computers, and metallurgy.
Electromagnetic Shielding Material Manufacturing
Flexible graphite can form a continuous conductive structure, making it suitable for manufacturing electromagnetic shielding materials to prevent electronic products from external interference.
Other Applications
Flexible graphite can also be used in battery separators, thermal insulation materials, fireproof materials, friction materials, and conductive adhesive materials.
Manufacturing Process of Flexible Graphite Products
1. Raw Material Preparation
Select high-purity natural flake graphite as the primary raw material. Screen and purify the graphite to remove impurities.
2. Expansion Treatment
Place the graphite in an expansion furnace for expansion treatment at high temperatures. During expansion, the compounds between the graphite layers decompose, producing gas that increases the interlayer distance, forming worm-like graphite.
3. Roll Forming
The expanded worm-like graphite is rolled into sheets using a rolling machine. During rolling, pressure and temperature must be controlled to ensure uniform thickness and stable quality of the graphite paper.
4. Impregnation Treatment
The rolled graphite paper is immersed in an impregnation agent to enhance its flexibility, corrosion resistance, and sealing ability. The impregnation time and temperature are adjusted based on the type and requirements of the impregnation agent.
5. Drying Treatment
The impregnated graphite paper is dried in a drying oven. During drying, temperature and time must be controlled to ensure complete curing of the impregnation agent while avoiding excessive drying of the graphite paper.
6. Cutting and Packaging
The dried graphite paper is cut and packaged according to requirements. During cutting, attention must be paid to dimensional accuracy and surface quality. During packaging, moisture-proof and dust-proof measures are taken to ensure the quality of the graphite paper.
Why AGRM?
- Stable Performance
- Durable and Effective
- Easy Installation
- Smooth Operation
- Wide Application
- Fast Delivery
