Zibo Hondo Chemical Co., Ltd. is one of the most experienced manufacturers and suppliers of graphite grade cmc in China. Our factory offer high quality products made in China with competitive price. If you have any enquiry about quotation, please feel free to email us.
Graphite grade CMC (Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose) is a key functional additive widely used in the processing of graphite-based materials, including battery anodes, pencil leads, lubricants, and refractory products. It provides reliable binding strength, dispersion stability, and rheology control, significantly improving both processability and final product consistency.
Graphite particles are inherently hydrophobic and prone to agglomeration in aqueous systems. Graphite used CMC adsorbs onto the graphite surface, increasing the absolute value of zeta potential and generating electrostatic repulsion. Meanwhile, its long polymer chains create effective steric hindrance, preventing particle re-agglomeration. As a result, Sodium CMC for graphite enables uniform dispersion, stable slurry behavior, and enhanced mechanical integrity, making it an industry-proven solution for water-based graphite processing systems.
Function
Due to graphite's layered structure, hydrophobic surface, and fine powder morphology, processing challenges such as particle agglomeration, poor formability, and unstable rheology are common. Sodium CMC addresses these issues through three synergistic mechanisms.
First – Binding and Shaping:
CMC dissolves in water to form a negatively charged polymer colloid. Through electrostatic attraction and van der Waals forces, it firmly adheres to graphite surfaces and bridges particles into a stable network. After drying, Graphite grade CMC forms a continuous, flexible film that encapsulates graphite particles, providing high green strength, dimensional stability, and resistance to cracking in products such as battery electrode sheets and pencil leads.
Second – Dispersion Enhancement:
CMC penetrates graphite agglomerates and, through steric hindrance combined with electrostatic repulsion, separates them into finer, uniformly distributed particles. This improves slurry homogeneity, electrical conductivity consistency, and overall performance, especially in lithium-ion battery anode formulations.
Third – Rheology Control:
By adjusting molecular weight and substitution degree, Sodium CMC precisely controls slurry viscosity. In coating processes, it prevents sedimentation while maintaining smooth flow for uniform thickness. In extrusion molding, it enhances plasticity, allowing graphite-based materials to pass through dies smoothly and retain stable shapes.
Through these functions, Hondo Graphite Used CMC ensures high process efficiency, batch-to-batch stability, and reliable end-use performance.
Application
-
1. Battery Electrodes (e.g., Li-ion Batteries, Fuel Cells)
- Graphite (natural or synthetic) is the core material for lithium-ion battery anodes. During production, graphite powder is mixed with a conductive agent (e.g., carbon black) and a binder to form a slurry, which is then coated onto copper foil to create the electrode. Graphite used CMC acts as a water-based binder, firmly bonding the graphite particles to the copper foil and conductive agent while ensuring uniformity and coating properties of the slurry.It improves coating consistency, reduces particle shedding, and enhances electrode cycling stability in mass production.
-
2. Pencil Leads
- Graphite is the core coloring and lubricating component of pencil leads. Graphite used CMC acts as a binder, bonding the graphite to the clay particles, imparting formability, strength, and writing stability to the lead.It improves extrusion smoothness, reduces breakage during drying, and ensures consistent writing performance.
-
3. Graphite Lubricant (Solid or Paste)
- Graphite is often used as a high-temperature lubricant (e.g., for lubricating mechanical components). Graphite grade CMC can disperse and bind graphite powder into a solid lubricant block or paste, making it easier to store and use. It also helps the graphite release evenly during friction.This ensures controlled lubrication, reduced dusting, and stable performance under repeated friction cycles.
-
4. Graphite Refractories (e.g., Graphite Crucibles, Refractory Bricks)
- When graphite is mixed with refractory aggregates (e.g., clay, silica), Graphite used CMC acts as a temporary binder to enhance the green body and prevent cracking after molding. It gradually decomposes during high-temperature sintering without affecting the final performance of the refractory.This improves molding yield and dimensional integrity before sintering.
Advantage
1.Compatibility with water-based systems, environmental friendliness, and low cost
Graphite used CMC is readily soluble in water and can form a fully aqueous system with graphite and water, eliminating the need for organic solvents (such as toluene, which is required in some resin adhesives). This reduces environmental pollution and production costs, making it particularly compliant with the environmental requirements of industries such as batteries and stationery. Strong stability, adaptable to various process conditions.Water-based processing also improves workplace safety, simplifies equipment cleaning, and lowers VOC-related compliance costs.
2. Acid and alkali resistance:
Graphite processing systems are typically neutral or weakly alkaline. Graphite grade CMC maintains stable solubility and adhesion in these environments, and will not fail due to pH fluctuations.This stability ensures consistent slurry viscosity and bonding strength during long production runs.
3. Moderate temperature resistance:
Graphite used CMC maintains structural stability during drying at medium to low temperatures (60-150°C), meeting the requirements of processes such as electrode drying and pencil lead drying. At high temperatures (such as battery operation or refractory sintering), it gradually decomposes, and its decomposition products (carbon dioxide, water, etc.) leave no residual contamination.This makes it a clean, non-interfering binder for high-purity graphite applications.
4. Adjustable functionality, adaptable to different graphite types
The properties of graphite used CMC can be controlled by the degree of substitution (DS) and molecular weight. Products with a high DS (DS ≈ 0.8-1.2) exhibit better water solubility and strong dispersibility, making them suitable for dispersing fine-grained graphite (such as nanographite for batteries). Products with a high molecular weight exhibit high viscosity and strong adhesion, making them suitable for products requiring high strength (such as refractory bricks and coarse-grained graphite blocks).This flexibility allows precise formulation matching for different graphite particle sizes and processes.
5. Enhanced Conductivity (Special Advantages in the Battery Industry)
In lithium-ion battery anodes, Cellulose CMC shows excellent compatibility with conductive agents such as carbon black, ensuring uniform conductive networks within the electrode. The thin, flexible CMC film does not significantly hinder lithium-ion migration or electron transport. Meanwhile, its strong and stable adhesion effectively reduces graphite particle shedding during repeated charge–discharge cycles, helping maintain electrode integrity. As a result, electrodes exhibit improved cycling stability, higher capacity retention, and longer overall battery service life, especially under high-rate or long-term operation conditions.
Specification
|
Test Item |
Specification |
|
Appearance |
White and Yellowish Powder |
|
Viscosity (1% solu.s) mPa.s |
500~2000 |
|
Degree of Substitution % |
≥0.9 |
|
Loss on drying, % |
≤ 10.0 |
|
PH, 1% solution |
6.0~8.0 |
|
Purity, % |
≥ 95 |
|
Sodium Glycolate, % |
≤ 0.4 |
|
Cloride, % |
≤ 0.5 |
|
Heavy Metal (%), mg/kg |
≤ 2 |
|
Lead (Pb), mg/kg |
≤ 2 |
|
As (As), mg/kg |
≤ 2 |
Quality Control of Graphite Used CMC
Raw Material Control:
Only high-purity cellulose is selected, with strict control of fiber source, purity, and moisture content.
Production Process Control:
Degree of substitution, viscosity, and particle size are monitored at key reaction stages to ensure batch consistency.
Finished Product Inspection:
Each batch is tested for viscosity, DS value, pH, moisture, and solubility according to internal control standards.
Pre-shipment Inspection:
Appearance, packaging integrity, and key performance indicators are verified before delivery.
Quality Assurance:
Stable formulations and traceable batch records ensure reproducibility and long-term supply reliability.
Why Choose Our Graphite Used CMC
Specialized grades developed for battery, graphite, and carbon material industries
Stable batch-to-batch performance suitable for large-scale production
Adjustable viscosity and DS to match different graphite particle sizes
Proven application experience across electrodes, lubricants, and refractories
Technical support for formulation optimization and process troubleshooting
Packing & Storage
Storage:
1. Store in a cool, dry, clean, ventilated environment. Temperature Max. 70℃, with relative humidity ≤80%.
Storage:
2. The product for pharmaceutical and food grade should not be put together with the toxic substance and harmful substance or substance with peculiar smell during transportation and storage.
Storage:
3. Since the date of production, a preservation period should not exceed 4 years for the industrial product and 2 years for the product for pharmaceutical and food grade.
Storage:
4. The products should be prevented from water and package bag damaging during transportation.
Packing:
25kg kraft paper bag with PE inner, or as clients request.
Conclusion
By fulfilling its three core functions of bonding, dispersing, and adjusting rheological properties, graphite used CMC has become a highly cost-effective additive in graphite processing, widely applicable in applications such as battery electrodes, pencil leads, lubricants, and refractory materials. Its water solubility, environmental friendliness, and adjustable performance offer irreplaceable advantages in balancing processing efficiency, product quality, and production costs. Sodium CMC holds significant application prospects, particularly in areas requiring high environmental and refined finishes, such as new energy batteries and stationery.
FAQ
Q1: Can Graphite Used CMC replace PVDF binders in battery anodes?
A: In water-based anode systems, CMC is widely used as a primary or co-binder, offering environmental and cost advantages.
Q2: How do I choose the right viscosity grade?
A: Coating applications require medium viscosity, while extrusion or molding processes benefit from higher viscosity grades.
Q3: Does CMC affect graphite conductivity?
A: Properly selected CMC forms a thin film that does not block electron or lithium-ion transport.
Hot Tags: graphite grade cmc, China graphite grade cmc manufacturers, suppliers, factory, Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose CMC Binder for Lithium Anode Materials, CMC Thickener for Toothpaste, Carboxymethyl Cellulose for Cosmetics, Carboxymethyl Cellulose for Tobacco, cmc for fabric, CMC for detergents
