DIAMOND AND GRAPHITE USES
Diamond and graphite are both allotropes of carbon with vastly different structures, leading to a variety of uses for each material.
Uses of Diamond
Diamond has a tetrahedral structure, in which each carbon atom is bonded to four other carbon atoms in a three-dimensional network. This structure gives diamond its hardness and high thermal conductivity, making it useful for cutting tools, abrasives, and heat sinks.
- Jewelry: Diamonds are prized for their hardness, brilliance, and rarity, and are commonly used in jewelry such as engagement rings and necklaces.
- Cutting tools: Diamond’s exceptional hardness makes it an ideal material for cutting and grinding tools, particularly in industries such as mining and construction.
- Electronics: Diamond’s high thermal conductivity and electrical insulation properties make it useful in electronic applications such as power electronics, semiconductors, and high-frequency devices.
- Medical applications: Diamond-coated surgical tools are used in a variety of medical applications due to their biocompatibility and ability to resist wear and tear.
Uses of Graphite
Graphite, on the other hand, has a layered structure, in which each carbon atom is bonded to three other carbon atoms in a flat, hexagonal lattice. These layers are held together by weak van der Waals forces, allowing them to slide past one another, which gives graphite its soft and slippery texture. Graphite is used in pencils, lubricants, and electrical contacts, among other things.
- Lubricants: The layered structure of graphite makes it an excellent dry lubricant for high-temperature and high-pressure applications.
- Batteries: Graphite is a commonly used material in lithium-ion batteries as the anode material, due to its high electrical conductivity and ability to intercalate lithium ions.
- Refractories: Graphite’s high melting point and thermal stability make it useful in high-temperature applications such as furnace linings and crucibles.
- Pencils: The soft, dark material in pencils is graphite, which is mixed with clay and then encased in wood for ease of use.
