What Is the Lead in Pencils Really Made Of?

The point of this pencil is composed of soft graphite.

Although we call the material in pencils "lead," it is actually graphite, a non-toxic alternative that can be obtained with less cost and use of resources. Lead was deemed obsolete for pencil-making centuries ago.

History

The earliest known embodiment of the pencil is called the stylus. The invention of the stylus is credited to the ancient Roman civilization. Thousands of years ago it was only a thin metal rod, typically lead, that made very light but visible impressions on an early form of paper know as papyrus.

Reasons for Change

Change for the stylus was imperative, as the lead used would not leave legible marks, no matter the composition of the paper. And lead belongs to the family of heavy metals that are severely poisonous. By the mid-fourteenth century use of graphite became widespread after large deposits were found in England.

Fun Fact

The remarkably soft graphite proved to be a challenge to use, unlike its dangerous counterpart, because of its extremely brittle characteristics. Before wooden casings arrived, layers of string would be wrapped around a stick of graphite for breakage prevention.

References

• Pencils History
• Office Museum