The effects of temperature, pressure, and graphite starting material on the density, isotropy, and strength of dense graphite material prepared by hot isostatic compaction of graphite powders were examined. Process equipment was developed to permit operation at temperatures up to 2700 C under a 1600-atom isostatic pressure of inert gas . The isotropy of graphite compacts was determined by neutron diffraction. Relatively isotropic, high-purity graphites were produced having modest isotropic tensile strength and extremely high density (up to 2.24 g per cm3, or 99 per cent of theoretical)
