Editing Graphite (section)

===Invention of a production process===
In 1893, Charles Street of Le Carbone discovered a process for making artificial graphite. In the mid-1890s, [[Edward Goodrich Acheson]] (1856–1931) accidentally invented another way to produce synthetic graphite after synthesizing [[Silicon carbide|carborundum]] (also called silicon carbide). He discovered that overheating carborundum, as opposed to pure carbon, produced almost pure graphite. While studying the effects of high temperature on carborundum, he had found that [[silicon]] vaporizes at about {{cvt|4150|C|F}}, leaving the carbon behind in graphitic carbon. This graphite became valuable as a lubricant.<ref name=Brit/>

Acheson's technique for producing silicon carbide and graphite is named the [[Acheson process]]. In 1896, Acheson received a patent for his method of synthesizing graphite,<ref>Acheson, E. G. "Manufacture of Graphite", {{US Patent|568323}}, issued September 29, 1896.</ref> and in 1897 started commercial production.<ref name=Brit/> The Acheson Graphite Co. was formed in 1899.

Synthetic graphite can also be prepared from polyimide and then commercialized.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kato |first1=Tomofumi |last2=Yamada |first2=Yasuhiro |last3=Nishikawa |first3=Yasushi |last4=Ishikawa |first4=Hiroki |last5=Sato |first5=Satoshi |title=Carbonization mechanisms of polyimide: Methodology to analyze carbon materials with nitrogen, oxygen, pentagons, and heptagons |journal=Carbon |date=June 2021 |volume=178 |pages=58–80 |doi=10.1016/j.carbon.2021.02.090 |bibcode=2021Carbo.178...58K }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kato |first1=Tomofumi |last2=Yamada |first2=Yasuhiro |last3=Nishikawa |first3=Yasushi |last4=Otomo |first4=Toshiya |last5=Sato |first5=Hayato |last6=Sato |first6=Satoshi |title=Origins of peaks of graphitic and pyrrolic nitrogen in N1s X-ray photoelectron spectra of carbon materials: quaternary nitrogen, tertiary amine, or secondary amine? |journal=Journal of Materials Science |date=October 2021 |volume=56 |issue=28 |pages=15798–15811 |doi=10.1007/s10853-021-06283-5 |bibcode=2021JMatS..5615798K }}</ref>