The Elk Mountain pilot., 1912-09-19
GRAPHITE the
GREAT LUBRICANT

|
rs a lubricant. Unlike Duluth, the
fair city ut the bead of the Great
I Lakes whose nqme Proctor Knott
describes as slipping off th~ tongue,
the name of graphite is harsh, sug-
costing just the opposite to its
smooth qualities. Like Duluth,
however, it had its early struggles
for recognition and is only now
fairly on its way to the place among
the smooth things in creation to
which it is entitled.
The rise to position which thia
humble non-mctalllc mineral is now
enjoying is due largely to the require
ments of the scientific advancement
in steam propulsion. From the
little old locomotive, which in times
past crawled along the steel rails, to
the great modern superheater capable
of great speed and with great hauling
power, is far cry. Likewise there
are not only steps but leaps from
the long shouted oil can, which the
old time locomotive engineer depend
ed upon for oiling up the creaking
| ioints of the iron horse, to the mod
ern automatic feed of lubricants to
all parts OF the big present day loco
motive.
1t is, however, the unusual high
temperature of the steam used in
the new big engines, calling for
! lubricant which does not easily vol
atilizc, Hhich gives to graphite its
growing importance, There is more
power in the supcrhcated steam and
quicker action in the modern slide
valve cylinder motion. To lubri-
cate surface such as the inside of
a cylinder of these new locomotives,
constantly in contact with tteam
having temperature iof more than
600 degrees, is difficult and costly
for petroleum products except with
the assistance OF substance like
graphite, which will not burn off "
Another cause for the increasing
use OF the mineral is the vast num-
Der OF automobiles. { Every automo-
bile supply house and garage handles
graphite in various forms, from pow
der, paste or liquid TO solid sticks
produced by numerous different
manufacturers This is one product
so generally distributed that y mo-
nopcly is impossible. In its various
forms il is used on chains and bear
ing parts as well as in cylinders in
conjunction with oil.
While different IN appearance and
formation, it is a matter OF discus,
sion among scientists whether coal,
petroleum and graphite are not OF
the some vegetable origin. Petro-
leum is described as u hydro-carbon. |
Coal is basicaily carbon. Merrill
in The Non-Me.allic Minerals"
says, Chemically graphite is nearly
pure carbon Merrill also says OF
graphite, Its most characteristic
features are its softness, greasy feel
my and property OF soiling every
thing with which it comes in!contact.
Neither coal nor petroleum is
among the accomplished artificial
attainments o' modern science.
Graphite made synthetically is,
however, an accomplished fact.
Synthetic indigo has ruined Madras
and other parts OF the East, ms it
has almost driven the native pro-
duct out of Che market Every
little while rubber producers are
made 20 shiver with apprehension
over the alleged successful making
of artificial rubber. Graphite arti-
licially produced from coal has
reached am output in this country
alone from few hundred pounds
ten years ago to 13,23S, 900 pounds
in 1910 and an estimated output of
about 16,009,0oo pounds in the
present year.
Notwithstanding this new source
of supply the graphite mines of the
world are turning out their usual
nrnluctinn and fhe. nricr hos nd .