Process for producing flexible graphite

A process for producing flexible graphite comprising molding particulate expanded graphite having a c direction expansion at least 10 times as great as that of the original c direction dimension to form an expanded graphite molding, impregnating the thus-formed expanded graphite molding with a member selected from the group consisting of containing 3-10% by weight of impregnated silicon compound based on the graphite.

A process for producing flexible graphite comprising molding particulate expanded graphite having a c direction expansion at least 10 times as great as that of the original c direction dimension to form an expanded graphite molding, impregnating the thus-formed expanded graphite molding with a colloidal silica containing SiO.sub.2 in a concentration of 12-20% to yield an impregnated molding, drying the thus-impregnated molding and then heat treating the dried molding at 500.degree.-2000.degree. C. to produce the flexible graphite.

A process for producing flexible graphite comprising incorporating particulate expanded graphite having a c direction expansion at least 10 times as great as that of the original c direction dimension with 5-40% by weight, based on the graphite, of a member selected from the group consisting of colloidal silicas containing 10-30% by weight of SiO.sub.2 and organo-silicon high molecular weight compounds having carbon and silicon as the skeletal components to form a mixture, drying the mixture so formed, pressure molding the dried mixture to an extent that the mixture so molded has a predetermined bulk density and than heat treating the molded mixture at 500.degree.-2000.degree. C. and, as an added step, if a temperature higher than 800.degree. C. has not already been attained, heating at a temperature higher than 800.degree. C., thereby to produce flexible graphite having a compressibility of 5-6% under a load of 100 kg/cm.sup.2 and a recovery ratio of 95-99%.