General Characteristics of Synthetic Graphite and Carbon

Many new graphite- and carbon-materials with improved cheu acteris-tics have been developed in the last two decades. Some of these materials have a strongly anisotropic structure and properties that approach those of the perfect graphite crystal. Others have a lesser degree of anisotropy which is not always a disadvantage as, in many cases, isotropic properties are a desirable feature, as will be seen in later chapters. 

A common characteristic of graphite and carbon materials, whatever their origin or processing, is that they are all derived from organic precursors molded graphite from petroleum coke and coal-teir, pyrolytic graphite from methane and other gaseous hydrocarbons, vitreous carbon and fibers from polymers, carbon black from natural gas, charcoal from wood, coal from plants, etc. 

These organic precursors must be carbonized and, more often than not, graphitized, in order to form carbon and graphite materials. The critical 

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