Generally flat member having smooth surfaces and made of highly oriented graphite

摘要

A functional member is supported by a support member in an apparatus and includes a generally flat element made of highly oriented graphite and having opposite smooth surfaces. The highly oriented graphite is of a laminar crystalline stricture made up of a plurality of crystalline layers and having planes of orientation aligned in a direction parallel to the opposite smooth surfaces of the generally flat element. The generally flat element is used as, for example, an upper cover for axially supporting an upper cylinder of a rotary head portion.