RE:A suitable substituteAre you serious? The kiddies forum is at the kids table in the back...how many entities are producing synthetic anode in North America right now...that would be zero. Look at the few that 'have big plans' to produce synthetic in the near future...very small amounts, if they can even do it. The tech is complex...few global entities can even do it with proper consistency...China being the leader...Synthetic graphite, anode...has a brutal carbon footprint, makes natural flake environmentally speaking look like Little House on the Prairie....no comparison...one is dirty and kills people, and the other other does not, period.
Now OEM's currently like a blended version re their secret anode sauce...both synthetic and natural...synthetic because its more efficient, just overall works better, and natural because it's cheaper. NO ONE IS GOING TO BE PRODUCING JUST SYNTHETIC IN NORTH AMERICA IN LARGE QUANTITIES, OR ANYWHERE FOR THAT MATTER...NOT ECONOMICAL FOR OEM'S...AND IF JOE DOESN'T LIKE DIRTY OIL, HE WILL KEAL OVER AND DIE WHEN SOMEONE INFORMS HIM OF THE CARBON DISASTER OF FOOTPRINT SYNTHETIC GRAPHITE PRODUCES...THE GREENIES WILL BE STORMING THE CAPITAL!
Materials whatever, try and google before you post.