Graphite’s war-fighting capabilities
Militaries
re-arming
Consider
the
following:
-
According
to
the
U.S.
Department
of
Defense,
the
military
is
prioritizing
maritime
and
air
forces
that
would
play
central
roles
in
the
Indo-Pacific
region,
as
the
Chinese
military
flexes
its
muscles
in
the
South
China
Sea
and
continues
to
hint
at
an
invasion
of
independent
Taiwan,
a
US
ally. -
The
US
Navy,
says
DoD,
want
to
grow
its
force
to
over
500
ships.
In
its
fully-year
2024
budget
request,
the
navy
seeks
to
procure
nine
battle
force
ships,
including
one
ballistic
missile
submarine,
two
destroyers
and
two
frigates.
The
hulls
of
these
ships
are
made
of
high-strength
alloyed
steel,
containing
metals
like
nickel,
chromium,
molybdenum
and
manganese.
The
Tomahawk
cruise
missile
has
an
aluminum
airframe
and
the
Mark
48
torpedo
has
an
aluminum
fuel
tank.The
Air
Force
seeks
to
procure
nearly
100
aircraft
including
48
F-35
fighter
jets,
and
for
land
forces
in
the
Indo-Pacific,
the
US
Army
is
bolstering
long-range
precision
fires
including
artillery,
rockets
and
missiles.
The
M30A1
rocket
explodes
with
82,000
tungsten
ball
bearings.
Nearly
20%
of
the
F-35
fighter
jet’s
weight
is
titanium,
while
Joint
Air-to-Surface
Standard
Missiles
have
concrete-piercing
casing
made
of
tungsten
steel.Last
fall,
President
Biden signed
off
an
an
$80
million
grant
to
Taiwan for
the
purchase
of
American
military
equipment. -
The
defense
department’s
2023
China
Military
Power
Report
estimates
the
Chinese
have
more
than
500
operational
nuclear
warheads
as
of
May
2023,
and
are
developing
new
intercontinental
ballistic
missiles.
These
nuclear
or
conventionally
armed
missiles
give
the
PRC
the
capability
to
strike
targets
in
the
continental
United
States,
Hawaii
and
Alaska,
an
official
said.Chinese
leaders
are
seeking
to
modernize
the
People’s
Liberation
Army
capabilities
in
all
domains
of
warfare.
On
land,
the
PLA
continues
to
modernize
its
equipment
and
focus
on
combined
arms
and
joint
training.
At
sea,
the
world’s
largest
navy
has
a
battle
force
of
more
than
370
ships
and
submarines.
In
the
past
two
years,
China’s
third
aircraft
carrier
was
launched,
along
with
its
third
amphibious
assault
ship.
The
PLA
Air
Force
“is
rapidly
catching
up
to
western
air
forces,”
the
official
said.
The
air
force
continues
to
build
up
manned
and
unmanned
aircraft
and
the
Chinese
announced
the
fielding
of
the
H-6N
—
its
first
nuclear-capable,
air-to-air
refueled
bomber. (U.S.
Department
of
Defense)
-
Russia’s
invasion
of
Ukraine
has
highlighted
the
need
for
robust
defense
in
Europe.
According
to
the
Center
for
European
Policy
and
Analysis
(CEPA),
the
European
Union
has
launched
the
European
Defense
Industrial
Strategy
and
the
European
Defense
Industrial
Program,
building
on
previous
efforts
to
improve
weapons
procurement.
With
Russia’s
shift
to
a
war
economy
and
dwindling
US
military
assistance
—
additional
funds
for
Kyiv
have
been
stuck
in
Congress
for
months,
although
a $300
million
stop-gap
measure was
recently
announced
—
CEPA
notes European
nations
are
urgently
sourcing
defense
equipment
from
non-European
suppliers,
which
often
offer
shorter
delivery
times.
Poland
has
made
significant
acquisitions
from
South
Korea,
for
example.
Warsaw
decided
to
purchase
FA-50
light
attack
aircraft,
K9
howitzers,
K2
Black
Panther
tanks,
and
K239
Chunmoo
multi-barreled
missile
launchers
worth
$5.8bn
in
2022.
-
As
of
August
2023,
the
Biden
administration
had committed
more
than
$43
billion towards
defending
Ukraine,
including
about
2,000
Stinger
antiaircraft
systems,
10,000
Javelin
anti-armor
systems,
and
greater
than
2
million
155-mm
artillery
rounds.
-
Russia
has
expanded
its
army
and
has
material
advantages
over
Ukraine
notably
in
artillery.
In
a
Feb.
13
study,
military
experts
said
Russia
started
the
war
with
a
highly
disorganized
force
of
about
360,000
troops.
By
the
beginning
of
2024,
the
Russian
Operational
Group
of
Forces
in
the
occupied
territories
comprised
470,000
troops.
The
country
has
dug
into
its
large
inventory
of
older
equipment
to
rebuild
damaged
tanks
and
other
armored
vehicles.
Another
analyst quoted
by
the
CBC said
the
Russians
now
have
stockpiles
allowing
them
to
fight
for
at
least
another
year
or
two.
-
Other
experts
suggest
Russia
is
getting
significant
outside
help.
According
to
US
intelligence,
China
has
ramped
up
military
aid
to
Russia,
supplying
components
for
navigation
equipment
in
M-17
military
helicopters,
jamming
technology
for
military
vehicles, parts
for
fighter
jets
and
components
for
defence
systems
like
the
S-400
Surface-to-Air
Missile
System.
Iran
has
supported
Moscow
with
Shahed
136s
and
the
Mojaher
6
drones
and
plans
to
build
a
drone
factory
near
the
Russian
town
of
Yelabuga.
North
Korea
has
provided
artillery
shells
and
munitions
for
Moscow’s
war
in
Ukraine. (CBC
News,
Feb.
23,
2024).
Last
summer, The
Telegraph
via
Business
Insider
reported China
is
helping
to
arm
Russia
with
a
range
of
military
equipment,
including
helicopters,
drones,
optical
sights,
and
key
defense
industry
metals.
Risk
of
metal
shortages
Despite
this
re-arming
trend,
the
US
military
and
its
NATO
allies
face
dwindling
stockpiles
of
minerals
for
military
use.
The
problem
is
especially
grave
considering
that
China,
now
America’s
strongest
foe
militarily,
controls
the
market
for
most
critical
minerals
and
the
United
States
is
dependent
on
China
(and
Russia)
for
the
materials
required
for
building
its
military
equipment
and
weaponry.
In
a
recent column
in
Real
Clear
Energy,
Eastern
New
Mexico
University
professor
Jim Constantopoulos
notes
that
the
United
States
does
not
have
a
national
policy
for
mineral
production,
and
that
without
action
to
maintain
the
defense
stockpile,
the
US
could
be
ill-prepared
for
a
defense
sector
more
reliant
on
batteries
and
renewable
energy
technologies,
let
alone
a
conflict
with
China,
the
world’s
mineral
superpower.
If
a
conflict
were
to
escalate
into
a
war,
he
says
the
US
would
have
shortfalls
in
69
minerals,
most
of
them
used
in
weapons
production.
China
is
the
leading
producer
of
29
of
43
industrial
minerals,
and
the
US
relies
on
China
for
about
half
of
the
critical
minerals
including
lithium,
cobalt
and
rare
earths.
China
is
also
the
world’s
largest
producer
of
gallium,
germanium,
natural
and
synthetic
graphite
—
and
the
largest
import
source
for
these
materials. While
Syrah
Resources
was
expected
to
start
producing
natural
graphite-based
anode
materials
in
December,
the
US
is
otherwise
100%
dependent
on
China
for
(refined)
graphite
imports.
Last
year
China
imposed
export
restrictions
on
gallium,
germanium
and
graphite,
disrupting
supplies
to
the
United
States.
Graphite
is
an
important
component
of
helicopters,
submarines,
artillery
and
missiles,
but
70%
of
graphite
production
comes
from
China
(and
100%
of
processed
graphite)
—
a
problem highlighted
last
fall by
European
Council
President
Charles
Michel.
A
similar
message
was
communicated
in
June
2023
by
NATO
Secretary
General
Jens
Stoltenberg,
who
warned
the
alliance
to
avoid
becoming
overly
dependent
on
Chinese
minerals.
It
isn’t
only
China.
Russia
supplies
NATO
members
with
other
key
defense
metals,
including
aluminum,
nickel
and
titanium.
Constantopoulos
points
out
in
his
column
that
in
the
event
of
a
mineral
shortage, the
U.S.
could
not
depend
on
its
closest
allies
for
critical
raw
materials. NATO
has
limited
mineral
production.
The
European
Union
imports
between
75%
and
100%
of
most
metals
it
consumes,
and neither
the
EU
nor
its
member
countries
have
stockpiles.
Nor
do
Canada
or
Great
Britain
have
mineral
stockpiles.
The
Carnegie
Endowment
points
out that the
US
government
holds
limited
mineral
inventories
in
its
National
Defense
Stockpile,
while
the
European
Union
(EU)
has
walked
back
its
plans
to
develop
a
centralized
mineral
stockpile.
NDS
inventories
have
dwindled
since
the
1950s,
and
as
of
March
2023
were
valued
at
just
$912.3
million
—
1.2%
of
the
stockpile’s
1962
value
of
$77.1
billion,
adjusted
for
inflation.
This
is
a
complete
180
from
before
World
War
Two,
when
the
Allies
controlled
most
of
the
world’s
minerals,
a
fact
that
proved
instrumental
in
eventually
defeating
the
Axis
powers.
As
Carnegie
points
out, mineral
supplies
can
help
sustain
military
power,
while
mineral
shortages
can
severely
undermine
it.
The
foundation
says
there
are
three
main
risks
that
could
lead
to
mineral
shortages:
foreign
export
controls;
rising
military
demand
amid
great
power
competition,
including
a
possible
US-China
conflict;
and
disrupted
sea-lanes.
If
war
breaks
out
with
China,
US
merchant
vessels
carrying
minerals
across
the
Pacific
risk
attack
by
Chinese
forces.
The
chart
below
shows
the
US
military
and
NATO
are
in
a
much
weaker
minerals
position
today
compared
to
1938.
Also
from
Carnegie:
A
2023
report
from
the
Hague
Centre
for
Strategic
Studies
found
that European
countries
face
high
or
very
high supply
risks
for
several
critical
minerals with
military
applications,
including
aluminum,
beryllium,
chromium,
copper,
and
natural
graphite for
towed
artillery,
which Ukraine heavily
relies
on.
The
United
States
faces
similar
mineral
shortage
risks
from
its
efforts
to
supply
Ukraine
militarily.
Graphite’s
properties
Virtually
every
US
military
system
requires
mineral
components,
from
steel
and
titanium
to
graphite
composites
and
cadmium
alloys. Global
defense
spending shows
that
military
demand
is
increasing
for
these
platforms,
munitions,
and
thus
minerals.
(Modern
War
Institute)
Graphite
is
the
ideal
material
for
defense
purposes
thanks
to
its
unique
properties,
i.e.,
it
is
able
to
withstand
very
high
temperatures
with
a
high
melting
melting
point;
it
is
stable
at
these
high
temperatures;
it
is
lightweight
and
easy
to
machine;
and
it
is
corrosion-resistant.
Four
ways
graphite
has
transformed
aerospace
engineering to
make
it
more
efficient,
are
increasing
the
service
life
of
airplanes;
improving
fuel
economy;
having
the
ability
to
run
hotter
engines;
and
reducing
the
weight
of
airplanes.
Fun
fact:
when
an
industry
giant
replaced
a
single
leaded
bronze
part
with
a
graphite
equivalent,
it
saw
a
weight
decrease
of
1.5
lbs.
In
aerospace,
every
pound
saved
equates
to
$5,000
a
year
in
fuel
costs.
Graphite
is
found
in
a
wide
range
of
consumer
devices,
including
smartphones,
laptops,
tablets
and
other
wireless
devices,
earbuds
and
headsets.
Besides
being
integral
to
electric
vehicles
—
graphite
is
used
in
the
anode
part
of
the
lithium-ion
battery
—
graphite
is
found
in
lubricants,
nuclear
reactors,
graphene
sheets,
and
in
pencil
lead.
Another
significant
characteristic
is
that
it
is
chemically
inert,
meaning
it
is
not
affected
by
a
majority
of
reagents
and
acids.
(BYJU’s)
The
European
Commission
last
fall added
synthetic
graphite
and
aluminum to
the
list
of
strategic
and
critical
raw
materials
outlined
in
the
Critical
Raw
Materials
Act.
In
2021,
President
Joe
Biden
signed
an executive
order aimed
at
strengthening
critical
US
supply
chains.
Graphite
was
identified
as
one
of
four
minerals
considered
essential
to
the
nation’s
“national
security,
foreign
policy
and
economy.”
Graphite
is:
-
One
of
14
listed
minerals
for
which
the
US
is
100%
import-dependent. -
One
of
nine
listed
minerals
meeting
all
six
of
the
industrial/defense
sector
indicators
identified
by
the
US
government
report. -
One
of
four
listed
minerals
for
which
the
US
is
100%
import-dependent
while
meeting
all
six
industrial/defense
sector
indicators. -
One
of
three
listed
minerals
which
meet
all
industrial/defense
sector
indicators
—
and
for
which
China
is
the
leading
global
producer
and
leading
US
supplier.
Military
uses
A report
last
year
from
the
Hague
Centre
for
Strategic
Studies found
that natural
graphite
and
aluminium
are
the
materials
most
commonly
used
across
military
applications and
are
also
subject
to
considerable
supply
security
risks
that
stem
from
the
lack
of
suppliers’
diversification
and
the
instability
associated
with
supplying
countries.
The
report
assessed
the
degree
of
criticality
for
each
of
40
materials
deemed
critical
or
soon
to
be
critical.
Natural
graphite
was
rated
“very
high-risk”
for
air
applications,
and
“high-risk”
for
sea
applications.
In
the
table
below,
natural
graphite
is
rated
red,
very
high
risk,
for
its
use
in
fighter
aircraft,
main
battle
tanks,
submarines,
corvettes,
artillery
and
ammunition.
Aluminum,
used
in
fighters,
tanks,
missiles,
submarines,
corvettes,
artillery,
ammunition
and
torpedos,
was
also
rated
a
very
high-risk
material.
The
report
says
aluminum
and
natural
graphite are
the
two
most
used
materials
in
the
defence
industry
and
can
be
found
in
aircrafts
(fighter,
transport,
maritime
patrol,
and
unmanned),
helicopters
(combat
and
multi-role),
aircraft
and
helicopter
carriers,
amphibious
assault
ships,
corvettes,
offshore
patrol
vessels,
frigates,
submarines,
tanks,
infantry
fighter
vehicles,
artillery,
and
missiles.
These
materials
are
used
in
components
such
as
airframe
and
propulsion
systems
of
helicopters
and
aircrafts
as
well
as
onboard
electronics
of
aircraft
carriers,
corvettes,
submarines,
tanks,
and
infantry
fighter
vehicles.
The
impact
of
supply
security
disruption
would
hence
be
very
significant,
given
the
multiplicity
of
aluminum
and
natural
graphite’s
applications.
In
the
fighter
plane
graphic
below,
notice
the
use
of
natural
graphite
(red
dots)
in
almost
every
part
of
the
plane,
including
the
body,
wings,
tail,
nose,
nozzle,
propulsion
system,
landing
gear,
electro-optical
systems,
and
sensors
and
electronic
systems.
According
to
the
report,
the
most
used
of
the
40
materials
across
the
air
domain
are
aluminum,
natural
graphite,
copper
and
titanium:
These
materials
have
several
applications
in
aeronautics.
In
aircrafts
(fighter,
transport,
maritime
patrol,
and
unmanned)
and
helicopters
(combat
and
multi-role),
aluminium,
natural
graphite,
and
titanium
find
their
main
application
in
the
airframe,
where
they
are
used
in
the
body,
wings,
tail,
nose,
and
axis
of
the
aircraft.
They
are
also
employed
in
the
production
of
propulsion
systems’
components
such
as
combustors,
nozzle,
drive
shaft,
and
propellers,
as
well
as
in
landing
gears,
connectors,
and
electronic
systems.
A
second
graphic
of
a
tank
shows
natural
graphite
in
the
inertial
navigation
system,
combat
identification
equipment,
and
coaxial
machine
gun.
According
to
the
report, For
the
construction
of
tank
guns,
Howitzer
machine
guns
in
infantry
fighter
vehicles,
and
GPS/SAL
guidance
systems
in
ammunition,
natural
graphite
is
found
in
combination
with
other
materials
to
construct
these
components.
The
amount
of
equipment
used
by
the
US
military
alone
demonstrates
a
captive
market
for
natural
graphite.
One source reported
in
2018,
the
US
government
had
roughly
440,000
vehicles,
780
strategic
missiles,
278
combat
ships
and
14,000
aircraft.
It
notes a
key
market
risk
for
the
US
defense
sector
is
a
material
reliance
on
a
geopolitical
competitor
that
can
create
a
shortage
of
natural
graphite
on
a
whim
that
would
directly
impede
manufacturing
of
critical
defense
systems
and
equipment
in
the
US.
The
Defense
Logistics
Agency,
the
same
agency
that
manages
the
National
Defense
Stockpile,
is reportedly
looking
for
a
domestic
source
of
isomolded
graphite
production,
used
by
the
military
in
several
applications,
including
tactical
munitions,
strategic
rockets
and
missiles,
and
large
advance-launch
systems.
One
of
the
more
surprising
defense
applications
of
graphite
is
the
so-called
graphite
bomb. According
to
Research
Gate,
the
non-lethal
weapon,
also
known
as
a
soft
bomb, is
used
for
shutting
down
the
power
supply
systems
of
the
enemy.
The
working
mechanism
of
the
graphite
bomb
is
relatively
simple
and
is
based
on
making
suspensions
of
air/clouds
of
carbon
filament
chemically
treated
extremely
fine
over
the
electrical
components,
causing
short
circuits
and
electrical
discharges
within
the
infrastructure
of
electricity
supply…
Carbon
filaments
used
inside
of
graphite
bombs
are
very
small
and
may
give
rise
to
dense
clouds,
with
a
long
persistence….
the
effect
of
the
graphite
bomb
is
only
over
the
equipment
and
facilities
of
uninsulated
power
supply.
A
graphite
bomb
was
used
against
Iraq
in
the
First
Gulf
War
(1990-91),
neutralizing
about
85%
of
the
country’s
electricity
facilities.
A
US-made
graphite
bomb
was
deployed
during
the
NATO
military
intervention
in
former
Yugoslavia
(1999),
where
it
disabled
more
than
70%
of
national
grid
electricity
supply.
The
US
military
also uses
graphite
flakes
to
block
electromagnetic
waves that
the
enemy
might
detect
and
use
to
target
troops
in
the
field.
Essentially
a
type
of
smoke,
synthetic
graphite
flakes
are
released
from
ground-based
systems
that
disperse
bulk
powders
into
the
atmosphere.
The
powders,
called
Micro-260
and
K-2,
are
composed
of
flakes
of
various
sizes.
It
should
be
pointed
out
that
synthetic
graphite,
made
from
petroleum
coke,
is used
in
all
the
downstream
industries
that
produce
military
equipment
components,
such
as
foundries
(graphite
electrodes)
that
make
steel;
and
facilities
that
manufacture
wheels
for
vehicles
or
body
armor
for
soldiers
(various
types
of
graphite
molds
and
dies).
Synthetic
graphite
is
employed
directly
in
graphite
nozzles,
used
in
high-powered
rockets
due
to
graphite’s
ability
to
withstand
extreme
temperatures.
These
graphite
components
can
be
as
simple
as
a
hole
drilled
into
a
synthetic
graphite
block,
or
a
more
advanced,
machined
nozzle
that
has
its
own
cooling
system.
A
new
graphite
application
for
military
and
industrial
usages
is
a graphite
oxide
patented
by
the
US
Army.
The
water
recycling
system
is
designed
for
washing
out
tanks
and
trucks
exposed
to
chemical
and
biological
weapons.
The
system
filters
out
impurities
at
up
to
600
gallons
of
wash
water
per
hour,
allowing
dumped
wastewater
to
be
re-used
or
safely
dumped.
Downstream
from
military
applications,
graphite
is
used
widely
in
the
aerospace
industry. According
to
Semco
Carbon, heat
treating
synthetic
graphite
is
used
as
engineered
material
to
create
precision
machined
plates,
posts,
nuts
and
bolts
along
with
heating
elements
and
fixtures
used
in
the
heat
treatment
of
aerospace
metals
such
as
titanium,
stainless
steel,
and
other
alloys.
As
an
extension
of
heat
treating
for
aerospace,
a
common
graphite
use
is
as
a
susceptor.
“A
susceptor
is
a
material
used
for
its
ability
to
absorb
electromagnetic
energy
and
convert
it
to
heat
(which
is
sometimes
designed
to
be
re-emitted
as
infrared
thermal
radiation).”
Another
use
for
graphite
is
as
a
mold. Graphite
molds are
used
to
cast
titanium,
aluminum,
and
stainless
steel
to
near
net
shapes.
Graphite
molds
are
also
used
for
molding
non-metal
composites.
An
example
of
this
is
for
a
satellite
dish
deployed
on
a
satellite.
Graphite
itself
is
used
for
jet
and
rocket
engine
nozzles
and
Carbon/Graphite
vanes.
Impellers
and
rotors
move
aviation
fuel
safely
without
the
dangers
of
creating
sparks
to
ignite
fuel.
Electric
vehicles
A
White
House
report
on
critical
supply
chains
showed
that
graphite
demand
for
clean
energy
applications
will
require
25
times
more
graphite
by
2040
than
was
produced
in
2020.
Graphite
has
the
largest
component
in
batteries
by
weight,
constituting
45%
or
more
of
the
cell.
Nearly
four
times
more
graphite
feedstock
is
consumed
in
each
battery
cell
than
lithium
and
nine
times
more
than
cobalt.
Graphite
is
therefore
indispensable
to
the
EV
supply
chain.
BloombergNEF
expects
graphite
demand
to
quadruple
by
2030
on
the
back
of
an
EV
battery
boom
transforming
the
transportation
sector.
It
is
not
an
exaggeration
to
say
that
electrification
of
the
global
transportation
system
doesn’t
happen
without
graphite.
The
lithium-ion
batteries
in
electric
vehicles
are
composed
of
an
anode
(negative)
on
one
side
and
a
cathode
(positive)
on
the
other.
Graphite
is
used
in
the
anode.
The
cathode
is
where
metals
like
lithium,
nickel,
manganese
and
cobalt
are
used,
and
depending
on
the
battery
chemistry,
there
are
different
options
available
to
battery
makers.
Not
so
for
graphite,
a
material
for
which
there
are
no
substitutes.
Nuclear
power
By
far
the
greatest
use
of
graphite
in
nuclear
has
been
as
a
moderator
and
reflector.
According
to
an International
Atomic
Energy
Agency
(IAEA)
paper, Graphite
has
been
used
as
a
moderator
and
reflector
of
neutrons
in
more
than
100
nuclear
power
plants
and
in
many
research
and
plutonium-production
reactors.
It
is
used
primarily
as
a
neutron
reflector
or
neutron
moderator,
although
graphite
is
also
used
for
other
features
of
reactor
cores,
such
as
fuel
sleeves.
Graphene
If
you
take
a
very
close
look
at
a
graphite
pencil
lead,
you
will
see
layer
upon
layer
of
carbon
atoms
—
multiple
two-dimensional
planes
that
are
loosely
bonded
to
their
neighbors.
The
reason
graphite
works
so
well
as
a
writing
material,
and
industrial
lubricant,
is
because
the
layers
of
atoms
slip
easily
over
one
another.
Each
of
those
single
layer
of
atoms
is
graphene.
Graphene
has
unique
combinations
of
optical,
electrical
and
mechanical
properties:
-
Astonishing
electrical
conductivity
–
graphene
has
the
highest
current
density
(a
million
times
that
of
copper)
at
room
temperature;
the
highest
intrinsic
mobility
(100
times
more
than
in
silicon);
and
can
carry
more
electricity
more
efficient,
faster
and
with
more
precision
than
any
other
material. -
Graphene
also
beats
diamonds
in
thermal
conductivity
–
it’s
better
than
any
other
known
material. -
It
is
the
thinnest
and
strongest
material
known
to
man
—
200
times
stronger
than
steel,
almost
invisible
and
weightless,
and
stretches
like
rubber.
Graphene
can
stretch
up
to
20%
of
its
length,
and
yet
it
is
the
stiffest
known
material,
even
stiffer
than
diamonds. -
Graphene
is
the
most
impermeable
material
ever
discovered;
water
molecules
cannot
penetrate
it.
Graphite
can
be
used
to
make
graphene
sheets
that
are
said
to
be
100
times
stronger
and
10
times
lighter
than
steel.
A
future
use
of
graphene
is
in building
a
detector
of
long
wavelength
light,
which
could
improve
night-vision
goggles,
chemical
analysis
tools
and
airport
body
scanners.
Inventor
and
physicist
Michael
Fuhrer
says
the
graphite
detector
is
as
sensitive
as
any
existing
detector,
but
far
smaller
and
more
than
a
million
times
faster.
Graphene
truly
is
a
wonder
material.
Hydrogen
fuel
cells
Another
interesting
yet
under-reported
usage
of
graphite
is
in
hydrogen
fuel
cells.
The
latter
are
frequently
used
in
fleet-type
applications
such
as
buses,
which
operate
in
a
number
of
US
states
and
the
UK.
As
the
technology
advances,
however,
car
manufacturers
are
looking
at
it
on
a
larger
scale.
That’s
because
vehicles
powered
by
fuel
cells
can
deliver
electric
power
at
ranges
equivalent
to
internal
combustion
engines
—
a
limitation
of
battery-powered
EVs.
How
is
graphite
used
in
fuel
cells? According
to
Innovation
News
Network,
Graphite
in
fuel
cells
is
used
as
a
conductive
material
for
the
bipolar
plates,
which
are
an
essential
component
of
the
fuel
cell
structure.
Super
thin
graphite
bipolar
plates
must
be
pure
and
of
high
quality
to
improve
electrical
and
thermal
conductivity,
as
well
as
ensure
long-life
operation.
The
bipolar
plates
in
proton-exchange
membrane
fuel
cells,
one
of
the
most
popular
technologies,
require
large
flake,
high-purity
graphite.
Fine
grained
graphite
is
also
used
as
additives
and
fillers,
but
this
is
a
relatively
small
component
of
fuel
cells.
Graphite
is
used
also
in
GDL,
where
graphite
is
impacting
the
porosity
of
this
layer.
Finally,
high-purity
graphite
is
used
as
catalyst
substrate,
enabling
the
precious
catalyst
metals
to
be
in
close
contact
with
the
reactant
chemicals,
while
avoiding
any
contamination.
Graphite
market
China
is
by
far
the
biggest
graphite
producer
at
about
80%
of
global
production.
It
also
controls
almost
all
graphite
processing,
establishing
itself
as
a
dominant
player
in
every
stage
of
the
supply
chain.
After
China,
the
next
leading
graphite
producers
are
Mozambique,
Brazil,
Madagascar,
Canada
and
India.
The
US
currently
produces
no
graphite,
and
therefore
must
rely
solely
on
imports
to
satisfy
domestic
demand.
Deficits
are
expected
to
kick
in
by
2025
as
new
graphite
mines
fail
to
keep
up
with
surging
demand
from
automakers.
Some
of
the
world’s
largest
auto
and
battery
makers
aren’t
waiting
until
that
happens.
They,
and
the
US
government,
are
racing
to
secure
graphite
supplies
ahead
of
a
coming
supply
shortage.
Tesla
and
Panasonic
are
among
the
companies
that
have
signed
graphite
off-take
agreements.
Syrah
Resources,
for
example,
has
an
off-take
with
Tesla
to
ship
graphite
from
its
mine
in
Mozambique
to
a
processing
facility
in
Louisiana.
According
to
the
USGS,
the
battery
end-use
market
for
graphite
has
already
leaped
by
250%
since
2018.
It’s
thought
that
battery
demand
could
gobble
up
well
over
1.6
million
tonnes
of
natural
flake
graphite
per
year.
For
context,
2023
mine
supply
was
1.6
million
tonnes,
which
means
we’re
very
close
to
entering,
if
not
already,
a
period
of
deficits.
Benchmark
Mineral
Intelligence
projects
natural
graphite
will
have
the
largest
supply
shortfalls
of
all
battery
materials
by
2030,
with
demand
outstripping
expected
supplies
by
about
1.2
million
tonnes.
According
to
a
BMI
analysis,
graphite
demand
is
likely
to
grow
by
a
factor
of
eight
by
2030
over
2020,
and
25
times
by
2040.
That
translates
into
a
predicted
supply
shortfall
of
30%
for
graphite,
compared
to
11%
for
lithium,
26%
for
nickel,
and
6%
for
cobalt.
By
then,
the
world’s
graphite
supplies
will
not
even
be
able
to
cover
demand
for
EVs,
let
alone
all
end-use
sectors,
BMI
projections
showed.
And
this
is
just
counting
EV
battery
use;
the
mining
industry
still
needs
to
supply
other
end-users.
The
automotive
and
steel
industries
remain
the
largest
consumers
of
graphite
today,
with
demand
across
both
rising
at
5%
per
annum.
BMI
has
said
as
many
as
97
average-sized
graphite
mines
need
to
come
online
by
2035
to
meet
global
demand.
That’s
about
eight
new
mines
a
year,
which
at
first
may
seem
doable
but
considering
the
number
of
graphite
projects
worldwide
and
the
time
it
takes
to
develop
them
into
mines,
we’re
really
up
against
it.
Given
that
demand
for
graphite
is
accelerating
at
a
rate
never
seen
before,
and
the
EV
industry
is
gradually
shifting
towards
natural
graphite,
the
impending
supply
crunch
could
get
serious.
Conclusion
Graphite
is
included
on
a list
of
23
critical
metals the
US
Geological
Survey
has
deemed
critical
to
economy
and
national
security.
With
the
exception
of
Syrah
Resources,
which
has
a
processing
plant
in
the
US
not
a
mine,
the
United
States
currently
imports
100%
of
its
graphite.
Another
way
of
saying
this
is
the
US
has
zero
production.
With
70%
of
the
world’s
graphite
supply
coming
from
China,
how
will
the
United
States
compete
in
these
new
technologies
that
are
shaping
our
world?
Are
we
going
to
own
what
we
need
here
or
buy
it
from
other
countries?
Current
events
are
teaching
us
how
dangerous
it
is
to
rely
on
foreign
sources,
in
a
world
where
adversaries
can
use
access
to
materials
as
an
economic
weapon.
American
manufacturing
including
equipping
the
US
military
with
the
most
advanced
weapons
systems
in
the
world
is
untenable
without
domestic
production
of
graphite
and
other
critical
minerals.
Take
another
look
at
the
pictures
above.
Graphite
is
used
in
almost
every
component
of
the
most
advanced
fighter
planes,
and
in
many
tank
parts.
Graphite
is
used
to
make
non-lethal
bombs
that
disable
electrical
grids
and
as
an
obscurant
smoke
on
the
battle
field.
Synthetic
graphite
is
employed
directly
in
graphite
nozzles,
used
in
high-powered
rockets.
If
anyone
needs
a
secure
supply
of
graphite,
it’s
the
U.S.
Defense
Department!
As
much
as
the
United
States
wants
to
keep
pace
with
China
in
the
global
EV
race,
and
militarily,
it
can’t
do
so
without
a
reliable
graphite
supply.
Remember,
the
US
currently
does
not
mine
any
graphite.
It
has
to
rely
on
imports.
In
2023
the
US
imported
84,000
tons
of
natural
graphite,
of
which
89%
was
flake
and
high-purity.
The
top
importers
were
China
(42%),
Mexico
(16%),
Canada
(15%)
and
Madagascar
(12%).
But
taking
into
account
the
fact
that
EV
batteries
require
run-of-mine
graphite
to
go
through
purification
and
coating,
a
process
controlled
by
China,
the
US
is
actually
not
42%
dependent
on
China
for
its
battery-grade
graphite,
but
100%.
This
is
a
precarious
position
to
be
in,
economically,
strategically
and
militarily.
This
is
why
graphite
is
firmly
placed
on
the
US
government’s
critical
minerals
list,
and
is
identified
as
one
of
five
key
battery
minerals
that
are
at
risk
of
supply
disruptions.
The
demand
for
graphite
is
only
headed
in
one
direction
— up.
We
have
clearly
reached
a
point
when
much
more
graphite
needs
to
be
discovered
and
mined.
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current
relevance,
correctness
or
completeness
of
any
information
provided
within
this
Report
and
will
not
be
held
liable
for
the
consequence
of
reliance
upon
any
opinion
or
statement
contained
herein
or
any
omission.
Furthermore,
AOTH/Richard
Mills
assumes
no
liability
for
any
direct
or
indirect
loss
or
damage
for
lost
profit,
which
you
may
incur
as
a
result
of
the
use
and
existence
of
the
information
provided
within
this
AOTH/Richard
Mills
Report.
You
agree
that
by
reading
AOTH/Richard
Mills
articles,
you
are
acting
at
your
OWN
RISK.
In
no
event
should
AOTH/Richard
Mills
liable
for
any
direct
or
indirect
trading
losses
caused
by
any
information
contained
in
AOTH/Richard
Mills
articles.
Information
in
AOTH/Richard
Mills
articles
is
not
an
offer
to
sell
or
a
solicitation
of
an
offer
to
buy
any
security.
AOTH/Richard
Mills
is
not
suggesting
the
transacting
of
any
financial
instruments.
Our
publications
are
not
a
recommendation
to
buy
or
sell
a
security
–
no
information
posted
on
this
site
is
to
be
considered
investment
advice
or
a
recommendation
to
do
anything
involving
finance
or
money
aside
from
performing
your
own
due
diligence
and
consulting
with
your
personal
registered
broker/financial
advisor.
AOTH/Richard
Mills
recommends
that
before
investing
in
any
securities,
you
consult
with
a
professional
financial
planner
or
advisor,
and
that
you
should
conduct
a
complete
and
independent
investigation
before
investing
in
any
security
after
prudent
consideration
of
all
pertinent
risks.
Ahead
of
the
Herd
is
not
a
registered
broker,
dealer,
analyst,
or
advisor.
We
hold
no
investment
licenses
and
may
not
sell,
offer
to
sell,
or
offer
to
buy
any
security.
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