Carbon materials and graphite

Carbon materials encompass a variety of materials, including chars, graphitized material from coal, coke (both natural and metallurgical), and graphite. Among these, graphite stands out for its crystalline structure, while other carbon materials exhibit a turbostratic (or amorphous) structure. The physical and chemical properties of these materials determine their diverse applications, which range from technological uses (e.g., batteries) to environmental (e.g., CO2 storage) and geological (e.g., basin analysis) applications.

Natural Graphite. Canada. Photomicrograph taken with reflected white light and lambda plate.

Natural Graphite. Canada. Photomicrograph taken with reflected white light and lambda plate.

Synthetic graphite. Photomicrograph taken with reflected white light and lambda plate.

Synthetic graphite. Photomicrograph taken with reflected white light and lambda plate.

Natural semigraphite. Kaiserberg, Germany. Photomicrograph taken with reflected white light and lambda plate.

Natural semigraphite. Kaiserberg, Germany. Photomicrograph taken with reflected white light and lambda plate.

Char from coal. Photomicrograph taken with reflected white light and lambda plate.

Char from coal. Photomicrograph taken with reflected white light and lambda plate.

High temparature treatment (2500°C) of a meta-anthracite from Douro Basin, Portugal. Photomicrograph taken with reflected white light and lambda plate.

High temparature treatment (2500°C) of a meta-anthracite from Douro Basin, Portugal. Photomicrograph taken with reflected white light and lambda plate.