Vermicular expanded graphite composite material

Claim 1

In a method of preparing compressed forms of expanded graphite including the steps of (a) providing a supply of vermicular expanded graphite; (b) providing a supply of a corrosion resistant resin; (c) blending said vermicular expanded graphite and corrosion resistant resin in an amount of from about 3 to about 50 weight percent resin based on the total weight of the vermicular expanded graphite-resin mixture; (d) compressing said mixture at a pressure within the range of from about 5 to about 50,000 pounds per square inch in predetermined directions into predetermined forms of graphite; the improvement comprising: (1) blending said vermicular expanded graphite with said corrosion resistant resin in the form of a dispersion of said resin in a volatile liquid carrier; (2) vaporizing said liquid carrier; and (3) heating said composite material to a sufficient temperature to sinter said resin prior to compression.