The regular pencil is a widespread writing device and everyone has at least one. However, only a few people may pay attention to its ingredients and how it was created. This article will unlock the mystery of the creating of this accessible device and answer the questions about what minerals are in a pencil.
What Forms of Minerals Are Used in a HB Pencil Lead?
You might have wondered that the pencil lead contains lead (the chemical element), but believe it or not, the “lead” doesn’t refer to the chemical element. No worries, you are not the one who is baffled by this matter, but the the “lead” appeared because of the lack of knowledge and a piece of graphite looked like lead, that is why they began to call it black lead. In addition, plumbago is a kind of ore, that is not appropriate for writing. Thus, it must be made from substance that can produce traces on any area, but usually on paper. Black lead is the most appropriate and ideal element for this particular task. Thus, people started to mix graphite powder and clay; while black lead is a pure mineral, rock clay contains numerous minerals.
Black Lead
In medieval times, pencils were made by tightening up a piece of graphite between two rounded wooden dies, since graphite can produce dark markings. As time went by, the technology for producing graphite had improved. People found out that adjusting the amount of graphite powder and rock clay allowed for regulating the lead’s hardness and blackness. Subsequently, the prepared blend had to be exposed to an open fire for a few hours in a specially designed kiln, which made the product hard enough to work on any surface and not crumble.
Actually, this technology is still being used by current brands, but, some of the exterior features were slightly changed. As a result, the quantity of graphite powder can vary according to what lead the producer wants to achieve: the more black powder mixed in, the blacker the core is, and generally, it is equal to 30 percent.
Are you looking for the high quality core in a pencil, which will work and won’t split for a plenty of time, than you need to have a look at these best mechanical pencils. Be certain, all of them are made from high quality materials and mineral blend, that is why you can choose one of them according to your needs.
Clay Binder
Clay is element that is significant in creating the lead for a pencil. First, the clay is necessary because of its hardening abilities. It also gives strength to the product. Therefore, while graphite powder makes lead blacker, the rock clay makes it more rigid. For that reason the amount of rock clay can also be changed according to what kind of lead the manufacturer wants to create. However, pencil lead comprises at least of two types of rock clay: calcium bentonite and Georgia kaolin clay, and their percentage is about 60%/40% accordingly.
Conclusions
Although everybody uses regular pencils, your interest in what they are made from allowed you to find out more about this device. As you can see, the consistency of the core is not so complex and now you know all the facts related to what forms a pencil and what types of minerals it is made up of.