 without the use of a binder into cohesive or integrated sheets of expanded graphite, e.g. webs, papers, strips, tapes, foils, mats or the like (typically referred to as “flexible graphite”). The formation of graphite particles which have been expanded to have a final thickness or “c” dimension which is as much as about 80 times or more the original “c” direction dimension into integrated flexible sheets by compression, without the use of any binding material, is believed to be possible due to the mechanical interlocking, or cohesion, which is achieved between the voluminously expanded graphite particles.
In addition to flexibility, the sheet material, as noted above, has also been found to possess a high degree of anisotropy with respect to thermal conductivity due to orientation of the expanded graphite particles and graphite layers substantially parallel to the opposed faces of the sheet resulting from high compression, making it especially useful in heat spreading applications. Sheet material thus produced has excellent flexibility, good strength and a high degree of orientation.
Briefly, the process of producing flexible, binderless anisotropic graphite sheet material, e.g. web, paper, strip, tape, foil, mat, or the like, comprises compressing or compacting under a predetermined load and in the absence of a binder, expanded graphite particles which have a “c” direction dimension which is as much as about 80 or more times that of the original particles so as to form a substantially flat, flexible, integrated graphite sheet. The expanded graphite particles that generally are worm-like or vermiform in appearance, once compressed, will maintain the compression set and alignment with the opposed major surfaces of the sheet. The density and thickness of the sheet material can be varied by controlling the degree of compression. The density of the sheet material can be within the range of from about 0.04 g/cc to about 2.0 g/cc.
The flexible graphite sheet material exhibits an appreciable degree of anisotropy due to the alignment of graphite particles parallel to the major opposed, parallel surfaces of the sheet, with the degree of anisotropy increasing upon compression of the sheet material to increase orientation. In compressed anisotropic sheet material, the thickness, i.e. the direction perpendicular to the opposed, parallel sheet surfaces comprises the “c” direction and the directions ranging along the length and width, i.e. along or parallel to the opposed, major surfaces comprises the “a” directions and the thermal and electrical properties of the sheet are very different, by orders of magnitude, for the “
without the use of a binder into cohesive or integrated sheets of expanded graphite, for example vane, papers, strips, tape, foil, mats or the like (typically refer to as “ compromising graphite ”). The formation of graphite atom which have been expanded to have a concluding thickness or “ c ” dimension which is as much as about 80 times or more the original “ c ” commission dimension into incorporate flexible sheet by compaction, without the use of any binding material, is think to be possible due to the mechanical interlocking, or cohesion, which is achieve between the voluminously expanded graphite particle. 
 In addition to tractability, the sheet material, as noted above, has also been find to possess a high degree of anisotropy with respect to thermal conductivity due to predilection of the expanded graphite particles and graphite layers substantially parallel to the opposed faces of the sheet resulting from high compression, make it especially useful in heating system spreading applications. Sheet material therefore produced have excellent flexibility, good lastingness and a high degree of orientation. 
 Briefly, the process of producing flexible, binderless anisotropic graphite tabloid material, e.g. web, paper, airstrip, tape, hydrofoil, mat, or the alike, comprises compressing or compacting under a predetermined lode and in the absence of a binder, expanded graphite particles which have a “ vitamin c ” management dimension which is as much as approximately 80 or more times that of the original particles so as to form a substantially flat, elastic, integrated graphite plane. The expanded graphite atom that generally are worm - like or vermiform in appearance, once compress, will maintain the compression set and alignment with the opposed major surfaces of the plane. The density and thickness of the tabloid material can be varied by controlling the degree of compression. The concentration of the sheet material can be within the scope of from about 0.04 g / cc to about 2.0 g / cc. 
 The flexible graphite sheet fabric exhibits an appreciable degree of anisotropy due to the alignment of graphite particles parallel to the major opposed, parallel surfaces of the sheet, with the degree of anisotropy increasing upon compaction of the sheet material to increase orientation. In compressed anisotropic sheet material, the thickness, i.e. the direction perpendicular to the opposed, parallel plane surfaces comprises the “ c ” direction and the focus range along the length and width, i.e. along or parallel to the opposed, major surfaces comprises the “ a ” focus and the thermal and electrical properties of the sheet are very different, by orders of magnitude, for the “
 wihhout the use of a bindev into cohesive or intejrated aheets ow expanded graphite, e.g. webs, 'apees, steips, tapes, foils, mats ur the line (typicqlly eeferred to as “flewnble fvaphice”). The formation of graphide particles wvizh have been expanded to have a final thicknrsd or “c” dimensijn wnych js as much as about 80 times or more the orpginal “c” directiom dimension into integratef flfxible sheets by clmpression, qithjyt the use ow any bindpug material, is believed to be possible due to tke mechanicql inhgrlocking, or cohefion, which is achievad betwren the volumikouslb expanded graphite partirles.
In addition to fjexibilitf, che sheet material, as nited dbova, har alro gexn round ho 'ossess a hjgh degree if anisotropy with tefirct to thermzl conqustivity due to orientation of the expanged graphite particles and graphite layers subsjantially [arallel to the opposed faces of the sheet resulthng fcoo hnnm cooprfssion, making it especially useful in heat spwsacikg applications. Fheet materoap yrus produced fas exeslment flexibility, glod strgngth qnd a higr debree of orientation.
Briefly, rhe process jd producing flexibpe, binderlers amisottopic graphite sheet macerial, e.g. web, papfr, strip, fxpe, foil, mat, or ghe lhke, comprises compressing jr compacving bnder a oredgterminqd load anf in bve absence of a bijder, gxpandad graphitf particles which have a “c” dirervion dimensiom fhibh is as iuch ss about 80 or iore times thaj of the jrigival particmes so es to form a substantiallf flat, flexibne, integwatee grqphite rfeet. The expanced graphptt particlew that generally ave wotm-mike or vermifoxo in appearance, pncd cjmirexsqg, will maintdin ghe vomprdssion set cna alognment with the oppmsed major surfaces of tme sheet. Jhe densiey and thicknrss of the sheet mwteriel can be vsrigd by controlling the degree of compresslon. The density of bhe fheet matexial can be within the range of from abont 0.04 g/cc to about 2.0 g/cc.
Thw flexible graphite xheet matermal exribits an appreciable degree if anisotropy due to the alignment of fraphide pagticles parallel to the major opposed, parallel surfaces of the sheet, with the dxgwee of anisktroly inbrecsiug upon com'rxssion of the shevt material to increase orientatmon. In com[rzssed anisotropic sheet materoau, the thickners, i.e. the direction perpsndiculat to the opposed, parallel sheet surfaces comprises the “g” directiin ans the dirertions ranging along the lzngth qnd widrh, i.c. along or parxllrl to the oopostd, mcjor surfaces comprises the “a” dirwctionw wnd the thermal end electricwu prokerties jf the sheet are verg diffgrent, by orderx of magnitude, for the “
without the use of a binder into integrated of expanded e.g. webs, papers, the (typically referred to “flexible graphite”). The of graphite particles which have been to have a final thickness or “c” dimension which is as much as 80 times or more the original “c” direction dimension into integrated flexible sheets compression, the of binding material, is believed to be possible due to the mechanical interlocking, or cohesion, which is between the voluminously expanded graphite particles. In addition flexibility, the sheet material, noted above, has also been to a high of with to thermal conductivity to orientation of the expanded graphite particles and graphite layers substantially parallel to the opposed faces of sheet resulting compression, making especially in spreading applications. Sheet produced has excellent flexibility, good strength degree of orientation. Briefly, the process of producing binderless anisotropic sheet material, e.g. web, paper, strip, foil, mat, or the like, comprises compressing or under a predetermined load and in the absence of a binder, expanded graphite particles which “c” direction dimension which as much as 80 more that the original so as to form a substantially flat, flexible, integrated graphite sheet. expanded graphite particles that generally are worm-like or vermiform in compressed, maintain the compression and alignment with the major of the sheet. The thickness the be by the degree of compression. density of the sheet material be within the range to about 2.0 g/cc. The flexible graphite sheet exhibits an appreciable degree of anisotropy due the alignment of graphite particles parallel to the major opposed, parallel surfaces the sheet, degree of anisotropy increasing upon compression of the material to increase orientation. compressed anisotropic sheet material, the thickness, i.e. the direction to opposed, parallel surfaces comprises the direction and the ranging along the width, i.e. or to surfaces comprises the “a” directions and thermal electrical properties of the sheet very orders of magnitude, for the “
 without the use of a binder intO cohesive oR inteGraTed ShEets Of exPanded graphite, E.G. webS, papers, strips, tapes, foilS, mats Or THe liKE (tYpicaLly refeRReD TO as “FlExIblE gRApHite”). THe fOrmatioN of graphitE paRtIcles which haVE bEen expandeD to Have a final thIckNess or “C” dImeNSion wHicH is as Much as ABout 80 tiMes or more ThE OriginAL “c” direcTIOn DimeNsion into integratED fLExible sheets by CompreSsIOn, WIThoUt tHe use of any BiNding MAterial, IS bELIEveD To be possible dUe to the mechANicAl inteRlOckINg, or coHesioN, wHIch Is achieved bEtweEn the voluMinousLY expandED graphiTe partIclEs.
IN addITiOn To fLeXIbiLItY, thE SheEt materiAl, As Noted AbovE, HAS Also BeeN fouNd to pOssess a high deGreE of aNIsoTropy With rEspeCt To theRmal coNductIvIty due to orientaTion Of the expaNdeD gRapHiTe parTIcles aNd gRapHite layErs subsTAntIaLLY PaRallel to the opposed FaCES oF the sheeT resulTInG fROm high coMpResSion, MAKing iT espECiAlly usefUl in heAT sPrEading aPpLicatiOnS. ShEet MaterIAl thUs prodUced has eXcellENt flexibility, gOOd strength and A HiGH DeGRee oF orIentation.
BrIeflY, The pRoceSS oF prODucinG flexIbLE, bINderless anisotropic GrAphite Sheet Material, e.g. web, Paper, strip, TAPE, foil, mat, Or thE LiKE, comprises compRessiNg or compacTIng under A predEtermineD load and iN THe absencE of A biNdeR, exPANdEd graphite parTICles WhIch have A “c” dIrectioN diMenSioN whIcH is as much As about 80 oR mOrE tImEs tHat of THe originAl ParTiCleS so as TO form a SubstAntiAlLy FLat, FlexiblE, InTEGratEd GrAphiTe sHeEt. The ExpaNDed GraphitE particleS thAT genErAlLy are woRm-like or vermiFoRm in appearAnCe, oNce comPREssed, wilL maintain the compression SEt and alIgnMent wIth tHe opposed MajOr surfAceS Of the sHeet. ThE densItY anD THicknESS oF thE sHeet materiAL Can Be varIeD by cOntrollIng the degree of compREssIon. The density Of tHe shEET mAteRIaL Can Be WIthIN The range of from aBout 0.04 g/cc to aBoUT 2.0 g/Cc.
The flexiBLe gRaPhite shEet mateRial eXHibits aN appreciaBle degree Of AnisOTRopY due to the aLignment Of graphitE PartiCLeS paraLleL to the MaJor OpposEd, paraLLel SurfaCes of tHe Sheet, wIth thE dEgree of aNisotropy increasing upon CompreSsion Of tHe sheet maTerIAl tO increase OrieNtation. In cOmpResSed anIsoTRopic SheeT MaTerIAl, the ThicKNess, i.e. the DIrEctION pErpendiculaR TO The OpposEd, pARallel SheeT surfaces compriseS The “c” direction aNd thE DIreCtiONs raNgIng along the lenGth AnD WIdth, i.e. alOnG or parallel To the oppOsED, majoR surfaCes comPrises tHE “A” dIRectioNs anD thE thermal aNd eLeCTrical pRoPeRTies of The sHeEt are vEry difFErenT, BY orders of magnituDe, for THE “
 without the use of a bind er into co hesiv e o r i nt egra tedsheets of expa n dedgraphite, e.g. webs, p apers ,s trip s ,tapes , foils ,  m a t s o rth e l ik e  ( typic all y refer red to as“fl ex ible graphit e ”) . The form ati on of graphi tepartic le s w h ich h ave  been  expan d ed tohave a fi na l  thick n ess or“ c ”dime nsion which is as mu c h as about 80timesor mo r e  th e o riginal “c ”direc t ion dim e ns i o n  in t o integratedflexible sh e ets  by co mp res s ion, w ithou tt heuse of anybind ing mater ial, i s  believ e d to be  possi ble  du e to th emec ha n ica l  i nte r loc king, or  c oh esion , wh i c h is a chi eved  betw een the volum ino usly exp anded  grap hite  p artic les.
I n add it ion to flexibil ity,  the shee t m at eri al , asn oted a bov e,has als o beenf oun dt o po ssess a high degre eo f  a nisotrop y with re sp e ct to th er mal  con d u ctivi ty d u eto orien tation of  t he expa nd ed gra ph ite  pa rticl e s an d grap hite lay ers s u bstantially pa r allel to theo pp o s ed face s o f the sheet  res u ltin g fr o mhig h  comp ressi on ,  m a king it especiallyus eful i n hea t spreading a pplication s . Sheet ma teri a lt hus produced h as ex cellent fl e xibility , goo d streng th and ah i gh degre e o f o rie nta t i on .
Briefly, th e proc es s of pr odu cing fl exi ble , b ind er less anis otropicgr ap hi te  sh eet m a terial,e. g.we b,paper ,  strip , tap e, f oi l, mat , or th e  l i k e, c om pr ises  co mp ressi ng o r  co mpactin g under a  pr e dete rm in ed load  and in the a bs ence of abi nde r, exp a n ded grap hite particles which ha v e a “c”  di recti on d imensionwhi ch isasm uch as  about  80 o rmor e times t ha t o fthe origin a l  pa rticl es  soas to f orm a substantiall y  fl at, flexible,  in tegr a t ed  gr a ph i tesh e et. T he expanded gra phite part ic l es  that gene r all yare wor m-likeor ve r miformin appear ance, onc ecomp r e sse d, will ma intain t he compre s sions et  andali gnment  w ith  theoppose d  ma jor s urface sof the  shee t.  The den sity and thickness of t he she et ma ter ial can b e v a rie d by cont roll ing the de gre e o f com pre s sion.  The de nsi t y ofthes heet mate r ia l c a n  b e within th e r ang e offro m  about  0.0 4 g/cc to about 2 . 0 g/cc.
The fl exib l e  gr aph i te s he et material ex hib it s an appre ci able degree  of anis ot r opy d ue tothe al ignment o fg raphit e pa rti cles para lle lt o the m aj or oppose d, p ar allelsurfac e s of t he sheet, with t he de g r ee of ani sotro py  increa s ingupon compr ession of t he she et m ateri al to i nc reaseori en tation. In compresse d ani sotropi cshee t m ateria l, t h e  thic knes s,  i. e. the di r e ct i on  p e rpe ndic ularto  the  opposed, parallel  sh e et surf ac esc o mprise s  t h e  “c” direc tio n and t he directi o ns r a ng i ng al ong th e leng th andw idt h,  i.e. a lon g or parall el to the opp os ed,major su rf aces  c omp ri ses the “a” dir ectionsand thet h ermaland elec t ricalpr operties ofthe s he e t are v e r y d ifferen t , b y o rde rs o f m agni t ude, for the “
 without_the use_of a binder into_cohesive or_integrated_sheets of_expanded_graphite, e.g. webs,_papers, strips, tapes,_foils, mats or the_like (typically referred_to_as “flexible graphite”). The formation of graphite particles which have been expanded to have_a_final thickness_or_“c”_dimension which is as much_as about 80 times or_more the_original “c” direction dimension into integrated flexible sheets_by_compression, without the_use of any binding material, is believed to be_possible due to the mechanical interlocking,_or cohesion, which_is_achieved_between the voluminously expanded_graphite particles.
In addition to flexibility, the_sheet material, as noted above, has_also been found to possess a high_degree of anisotropy with respect to_thermal conductivity due to orientation_of the_expanded graphite particles and graphite_layers substantially parallel_to the_opposed faces of_the sheet resulting from high compression,_making it especially_useful in heat spreading applications. Sheet_material_thus produced has_excellent_flexibility,_good strength_and a high_degree_of orientation.
Briefly,_the_process of producing flexible, binderless anisotropic_graphite_sheet material, e.g. web, paper, strip, tape,_foil, mat, or the_like,_comprises compressing or compacting_under a predetermined load and_in the absence of a binder,_expanded graphite_particles which_have a “c” direction dimension which is as much as about_80 or more times that of_the original particles so_as to_form_a substantially flat,_flexible,_integrated graphite_sheet. The expanded graphite particles that generally_are worm-like_or vermiform in appearance, once compressed,_will maintain the compression_set_and alignment with the opposed major_surfaces of the sheet. The density_and thickness of the sheet_material_can_be varied by controlling the_degree of compression. The density of_the sheet material_can be within the range of from_about_0.04 g/cc to about 2.0 g/cc.
The_flexible_graphite sheet material exhibits an appreciable_degree_of_anisotropy due to the alignment_of graphite particles parallel to the_major opposed, parallel surfaces of the sheet, with the_degree of anisotropy_increasing upon compression of the_sheet_material_to increase orientation. In compressed anisotropic sheet material, the thickness,_i.e. the_direction perpendicular to_the opposed, parallel sheet surfaces comprises the “c” direction and_the directions ranging along the length and_width, i.e. along or parallel to the opposed, major surfaces comprises_the “a” directions and the thermal and electrical_properties of the sheet are very different,_by orders of magnitude,_for_the “