The subject of expandable graphite …

… is omnipresent and continues to gain in importance. Since the beginning of the 1990s expandable graphite has been used as a halogen-free, environmentally friendly flame retardant and fire protection additive. Expandable graphite is a natural graphite in which a chemical process is used to introduce water-insoluble salts into its layer structure, which, when exposed to heat, ensure an enormous and rapid increase in volume. This property qualifies the material for its use in fire protection.

Remacon standard types overview (typical values)

Expandable graphite with normal start temperature and high expansion. 

Type
-
-
BLG 250 T
BLG 300 TS
Start temperature
-
-
ca. 200°C
ca. 180°C
Expansion
-
-
> 200 cm³/g
> 400 cm³/g
Particle distribution
-
-
80% > 250 µm
80% > 300 µm

Expandable Graphite with low / high start temperature

Type
-
-
BLG 300L-LT
BLG 300L-HT
BLG 300L-HT
Start temperature
-
-
ca. 140 - 160°C
ca. 230°C
ca. 270°C
Expansion
-
-
> 200 cm³/g
> 100 cm³/g
> 200 cm³/g
Particle distribution
-
-
70% > 300 µm
70% > 300 µm
70% > 300 µm

Blähgraphit with fine particle size

Type
-
-
BLG 40T
Start temperature
-
-
ca. 200°C
Expansion
-
-
> 40 cm³/g
Particle distribution
-
-
80% < 75 µm

Early starters or late starters?

RMC Remacon offers expandable graphite grades that start to expand at about 140°C. These so-called “early starters” are excellently suited for applications which are to develop their effect even at low temperatures. High start temperatures, also known as “late starters”, have an onset point of approx. 250 – 270 °C and are always used when the processing temperature, e.g. in the plastics sector, demands higher temperatures and early expansion must be prevented.

Halogen-free innovative fire protection as a daily companion

Expandable graphite from RMC can be found in many areas of daily life. New technologies lead to constant improvements and reduce the number of fire victims and large fire damages.

The carpet backs of airplanes or trains contain expandable graphite as well as many fire protection components in modern building fire protection. For example, pipe bulkheads, door seals or even steel beams are equipped with expandable graphite.

Useful properties of expandable graphite

Expansion miracle

Modern expandable graphite grades allow expansion rates of > 400 cm³/g and enable the formation of a voluminous intumescent layer with a small amount of material.

 

REACH-compliant

As with all our materials, we also ensure REACH compliance for expandable graphite. 

Added value through development

In addition to being a raw material supplier, RMC Remacon is also a development partner and provides support in the selection of raw materials and processes. Extensive possibilities for adaptation and innovative development approaches enable joint success.

Supply capability

Due to long-term partnerships, German warehouse including a high standard in quality assurance, we are able to deliver many standard types from our German warehouse. This also applies to material samples.

Composition of graphite

Graphite consists of pure carbon.

Similar to diamond, graphite molecules form a crystal lattice. However, while diamond is arranged cubically, the carbon atoms in graphite form a hexagonal surface structure.

Carbon is one of the most common elements in the solar system.

Carbon is one of the most common elements in the solar system. Its share on earth is about 1.85 billion gigatons. Only 0.1 percent of this is above the earth’s surface. But here, carbon is the basis for organic chemistry and biological life. The reason is its special ability to form compounds with itself and with other elements and to form new substances. For example, in combination with oxygen it becomes carbonic acid, with hydrogen it becomes fossil fuel and with itself it becomes diamond, fullerene, graphene or graphite.

The mineral graphite ranks sixth in the periodic table.

 Its six most important parameters are crystallinity, surface, particle shape, particle size and porosity. The application form of graphite depends largely on the combination of these parameters in its manufacturing.

Production of expandable graphite

The main production country for expandable graphite is the Republic of China. The large flake natural graphites mined there are particularly suitable for the production of expandable graphite.

The layers of the graphite layer lattice have much greater distances from each other than the atoms within the layer and are held together by weak Van der Waals forces. These intermediate layers are subjected to treatment with acids and oxidizing agents which cause expandable salts to be incorporated into these intermediate layers. When exposed to heat (depending on the type, from approx. 140°C), these salts drive the individual layers apart and thus lead to a high increase in volume. The manufacturing process is called intercalation.

RMC Remacon

Located in Bad Säckingen on the Hochrhein, RMC Remacon today supplies technical grades of carbon all over the world. Our customers include both small and medium-sized companies as well as globally operating, large corporations. In the end, our fenestrated graphite is turned into high-tech lubricants and lubricating greases, additives for the chemical industry, modern building materials, ceramics or fillers to improve conductivity. Our consultants have extensive expertise about the possible applications of graphite. We will be pleased to advise you on the optimum product for your needs.

Contact

Consulting & Contact

Do you have questions or need advice?

Please call us or write to us via our contact form.

RMC Remacon GmbH
Hugo-Herrmann-Str. 15
79713 Bad Säckingen
Germany

Phone. +49 7761 939 930
Mail: info@rmc-remacon.com