What are Carbon Materials?

Carbon and graphite materials are non-metallic solid materials primarily composed of carbon. Carbon materials mainly consist of non-graphitic carbon, while graphite materials are primarily composed of graphitic carbon. For simplicity, they are sometimes collectively referred to as carbon materials.

Carbon products can be classified by application into categories such as graphite electrodes, carbon blocks, graphite anodes, carbon electrodes, pastes, electrocarbon products, carbon fibers, specialty graphite, graphite heat exchangers, etc.

• Graphite electrodes are further divided by allowable current density into:

  • Regular power graphite electrodes

  • High-power electrodes

  • Ultra-high-power electrodes

• Carbon blocks include blast furnace blocks, aluminum electrolysis blocks, and electric furnace blocks.

• By processing depth, carbon products include carbon artifacts, graphite artifacts, carbon fibers, and graphite fibers.

• Based on raw materials and production processes, they are categorized as graphite products, carbon products, carbon fibers, and specialty graphite products.

• By ash content, they are classified as high-ash (multi-ash) or low-ash products (ash content <1%).

China’s national technical standards for carbon products are categorized according to their applications and production processes. This classification reflects the product’s purpose and manufacturing methods, facilitates accounting, and serves as the basis for calculation standards.