Foliated fine graphite particles and method for preparing same

A method for preparing foliated fine graphite particles of substantially uniform shade which comprises the steps of (a) dispersing expanded graphite particles having a honeycomb structure along the graphite crystal layer planes, a rate of expansion of 50 or greater and a bulk density of 0.01 g/cm.sup.3 or less in from 1.5 to 100 times the volume of the expanded graphite of a liquid which has low viscosity, surface tension and specific gravity and which exhibits good wetting properties for the expanded graphite particles and, while the expanded graphite particles are in the liquid, (b) imparting ultrasonic energy to both the liquid and the interior of the graphite particles, whereby the particle walls are subjected to ultrasonic vibrations and the impact of cavitation caused thereby from both inside and the outside of the particles, for a period of time effective to comminute by ultrasonic energy alone more than 90% of the starting graphite particles into foliated fine particles which have a substantially uniform shape, a thickness of 1 .mu.m or less and a diameter of 1 to 100 .mu. m and an aspect ratio of from 100 to 7,000.