A graphite project of giant proportions

摘要

Graphite is an industrial staple. Its various properties -including high refractoriness, corrosion resistance and flexibility - have cemented its place in markets such as foundries and refractories, where stable, long-term growth appears to be assured.Yet for this traditional mineral, times are quickly changing. The last three or so years have seen a sharp rise in market interest, owing to the collision of several factors: falling supply and quality from China (the world's largest natural graphite producer), increasing prices, and booming interest in new applications which serve the hi-tech sector.