Graphite electrode refers to a kind of resistant material made by using petroleum coke and pitch coke as aggregate and coal pitch as binding agent through raw material calcination, crushing and grinding, batching, kneading, molding, roasting, impregnation, graphitization and mechanical processing. The high-temperature graphite conductive material is called artificial graphite electrode (graphite electrode for short), which is different from the natural graphite electrode prepared by using natural graphite as raw material.

(1) Used in electric arc steelmaking furnace

Graphite electrode materials can be mainly used for electric furnace steelmaking. Electric furnace steelmaking uses research graphite electrodes to introduce working current into the furnace. The powerful current at the lower end of the electrode can affect arc discharge through these gas environments, and the heat generated by the arc is used for smelting. The size of the electric capacity is equipped with graphite electrodes with different diameters, which can be used continuously, and the connection between the electrodes against the electrode joints. Graphite used in steelmaking as an electrode material accounts for about 70-80% of the total consumption of graphite electrodes in China.

(2) Used in submerged electric furnace

It is mainly used to produce iron furnace ferroalloy, pure silicon, yellow phosphorus, calcium carbide and matte. Its characteristic is that the lower part of the conductive electrode is buried in the charge, so in addition to the heat generated by the arc between the electric plate and the charge, the current passes through the charge At the same time, heat is also generated by the electrical resistance of the charge. Every ton of silicon consumes about 150kg of graphite electrode, and every ton of yellow phosphorus consumes about 40kg of graphite electrode.

(3) Used in resistance furnace

In the production process, the graphitization furnace for graphite material products, the furnace and production of melting technical glass, and the electric furnace for silicon carbide are all resistance furnaces. The management of the materials in the furnace is both a heating resistor and an object to be heated. Usually, the graphite electrode for conducting is inserted into the furnace head wall at the end of the hearth, so the conducting electrode is not consumed continuously.

(4) For processing

A large number of graphite electrode blanks are also used to process various crucibles, graphite boats, hot die casting molds and vacuum electric furnace heating elements and other special-shaped products. For example, in the quartz glass industry, 10t of graphite electrode blank is required for every production of lt electric fusion tube, and 100kg of electrode blank is consumed for every production of lt quartz brick. It should also be noted that there are three types of graphite composite materials at high temperatures, including graphite electrodes, graphite molds and graphite crucibles. In these three materials, graphite is prone to oxidation and combustion reactions at high temperatures, resulting in surface glue. The increased porosity and loose structure of the carbon layer affect the service life.