Graphite Electrode

Introduction

Graphite electrodes are made from petroleum coke after it is mixed with coal tar pitch. They are then extruded and shaped, baked to carbonize the binder (pitch), and finally graphitized by heating it to temperatures approaching 3000 °C, at which the carbon atoms arrange into graphite.

Graphite electrodes are mainly used in electric arc furnaces. They are presently the only products available that have high levels of electrical conductivity and the capability of sustaining the extremely high levels of heat generated in EAF. Graphite electrodes are also used to refine steel in ladle furnaces and other smelting processes. Graphite electrodes are divided into 4 Types: RP Graphite electrodes, HP Graphite electrodes, SHP Graphite electrodes, and UHP Graphite electrodes.

Technology

Graphite Electrode Manufacturing Process 

1.Raw Material

Use of high-quality calcined petroleum coke production materials

2.Crushing & Screening

They are broken needle coke in mechanical equipment and screening according to the formula after the proportion of the ingredients.

3.kneading

Ingredients of the raw materials with a certain proportion of asphalt heated kneading, made with plastic paste.

4.Forming

After kneading of the paste by temperature cooled to process, and forming into the compressor according to the requirements of product specifications

5.Baking

Within the roasting road, will be “green” electrode roasting to the specified temperature, according to the requirements of the process. After roasting products with special dipping, density, and mechanical strength, improve product performance in order to improve the products and then to repeat the roasting of impregnated products.

6.Graphitization

Second after roasting the products within the graphitization resistance furnace power up to 3000 ℃, the carbon atoms rearrange into specific crystalline form structure, carbon into graphite.

Usage

The graphite electrodes are primarily used to carry the electricity that melts scrap iron and steel in electric arc furnaces. As an increasing proportion of global steel is made using electric arc furnaces, the secondary production of steel becomes the major consumption of graphite electrodes. Additionally, the graphite electrode is also used in melting products in smelting furnaces, non-ferrous metals, ceramic products, and even the waste recycling industry. The demand for graphite electrodes is majorly dependent on its application in manufacturing steel through smelting by using an electric arc furnace (EAF). Steel manufacturers are shifting towards electric arc furnaces over the blast furnaces, owing to the advantages offered by EAF such as low cost of establishment, higher production flexibility, and low CO2 emissions.

Statistics

World crude steel production was 444.1 mt in the first three months of 2019, up by 4.5% compared to the same period in 2018. Asia produced 312.9 mt of crude steel, an increase of 7.0% over the first quarter of 2018. The EU produced 42.3 mt of crude steel in the first quarter of 2019, down by 2.0% compared to the same quarter of 2018. North America’s crude steel production in the first three months of 2019 was 30.7 mt, an increase of 4.0% compared to the first quarter of 2018. China’s crude steel production for March 2019 was 80.3 mt, an increase of 10.0% compared to March 2018. India produced 9.4 mt of crude steel in March 2019, down 1.0% in March 2018. Japan produced 9.1 mt of crude steel in March 2019, unchanged from what it produced in March 2018. South Korea’s crude steel production stood at 6.3 mt, up 2.8% in March 2018. In the EU, Italy’s crude steel production for March 2019 was 2.3 Mt, down by 0.3% in March 2018. France produced 1.4 Mt of crude steel in March 2019, an increase of 2.3% compared to March 2018. Spain produced 1.4 Mt of crude steel in March 2019, an increase of 5.9% in March 2018. The US produced 7.8 Mt of crude steel in March 2019, a 5.7% increase in March 2018. Crude steel production in Ukraine stood at 2.0 Mt in March 2019, up 15.0% in March 2018. Brazil’s crude steel production for March 2019 was 2.8 Mt, down by 8.6% in March 2018. Turkey’s crude steel production for March 2019 was 3.0 Mt, down by 11.7% in March 2018.