What is graphite electrode?

Graphite electrodes are mainly made from petroleum coke and needle coke as raw materials, with coal tar pitch as a binder. They are made by calcination, batching, mixing, molding, roasting, graphitization, and machining. They are conductors that release electrical energy in the form of an arc in an electric arc furnace to heat and melt the furnace material. According to their quality indicators, they can be divided into ordinary power graphite electrodes, high-power graphite electrodes, and ultra-high power graphite electrodes.

The main raw material for the production of graphite electrodes is petroleum coke. A small amount of asphalt coke can be added to ordinary power graphite electrodes, and the sulfur content of both petroleum coke and asphalt coke cannot exceed 0.5%. Needle coke is also required when producing high-power or ultra high power graphite electrodes. The main raw material for the production of aluminum anodes is petroleum coke, and the sulfur content is controlled to be no more than 1.5% to 2%. Petroleum coke and asphalt coke should comply with relevant national quality standards.