Custom Carbon & Graphite Machining

23 Dec

Precision Graphite Machining: Best Practices and Common Challenges

Graphite Machining Takes Knowledge and ExperienceWhen it comes to precision machining of graphite, the difference between a quality component and scrap often comes down to understanding the material's unique characteristics. Graphite isn’t like metal or wood. It provides a great many benefits due to its superior thermal conductivity at high temperatures and heat spreading properties making it ideal for electronic components on circuit boards like heat sinks, while it's cost effectiveness also make it a great option for semiconductor manufacturing or any other processes that require high temperatures and the highest standards. With the current and forecasted boom in renewable...

07 May

Synthetic Graphite in Electric Vehicles

Synthetic Graphite in Electric VehiclesThink back ten years. Do you remember seeing electric vehicles on the road? Hybrids, perhaps, and yes, those featured advanced battery technology. But lithium-ion batteries were not powering many cars. Now, think of your commute today. Chances are, you saw several electric vehicles, possibly even e bikes, on your way to work. Electric vehicles have become so common, you probably don’t even notice them. The electric vehicles revolution continues to accelerate in the market today, with automakers worldwide transitioning their fleets from internal combustion engines, with their carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels and emitting greenhouse...

15 Feb

Graphite and Oxidation

A recurring issue we hear about from people using graphite components is graphite oxidation. This term describes unwanted redox reactions where oxidizing agents modify graphite properties negatively. Hence, especially at high temperatures, steps need to be taken to eliminate oxygen presence so that oxidation and deterioration of graphite components is avoided. Semco strives to educate our clients who order custom graphite components about the proper environments in which those components should operate. However, new clients will come to us expressing their frustration that graphite components are failing long before they should. One reason to work with the synthetic graphite experts...

23 Oct

Graphite Cement: A High Temperature-Resistant Building Material

Graphite cement typically refers to a material with adhesive and bonding physical properties that contains graphite as one of its primary components. This is not your typical cement, one of the most ubiquitous, and necessary, building materials used by people today. Your typical cement is made of forms of lime, silica, iron, and aluminum. Like manufactured graphite, cement’s formula can be adjusted to suit specific purposes. One of those materials that can be added to cement to give it certain properties is graphite. Graphite is a form of carbon known for its excellent electrical conductivity, lubricating properties, and high temperature...

09 Oct

Teflon: Not Just for Non-Stick Cookware

Teflon History and ApplicationsGraphite is a high temperature-resistant material. It isn’t too surprising then to find that graphite and Teflon have been combined in industrial applications that go beyond just non-stick cookware, like gasket material (and many others). Teflon-coated graphite refers to a material that consists of a layer of Teflon (a brand name owned by The Chemours Company, for polytetrafluoroethylene, or PTFE) applied to the surface of graphite. This combination offers unique properties and applications, primarily due to the characteristics of both materials. Teflon was a revolutionary invention (or "lucky accident" in the eyes of some!) from it's conception. Roy...