Application scope of graphite products

1、 Used as a conductive material

When smelting various alloy steels, ferroalloys, or producing calcium carbide and yellow phosphorus using an electric arc furnace or submerged arc furnace, a strong current is introduced into the melting zone of the electric furnace through carbon electrodes (or continuous self baking electrodes – i.e. electrode paste) or graphitized electrodes to generate an arc, converting electrical energy into heat energy, and raising the temperature to around 2000 degrees Celsius, thereby meeting the requirements of smelting or reaction. Magnesium, aluminum, and sodium are generally produced by molten salt electrolysis. At this time, the anode conductive material of the electrolytic cell is either a graphite electrode or a continuous self baking electrode (anode paste, sometimes pre baked anode). The temperature of molten salt electrolysis is generally below 1000 degrees Celsius. The anode conductive material for the production of caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) and chlorine gas in salt solution electrolysis tanks is generally graphite anode. The conductive material for the furnace head of the resistance furnace used in the production of silicon carbide also uses graphite electrodes. In addition to the above purposes, carbon and graphite products are widely used as conductive materials in the motor manufacturing industry as slip rings and brushes. In addition, they are also used as carbon rods in dry batteries, arc carbon rods for searchlights or arc light generation, and anodes in mercury rectifiers.

2、 Used as refractory material

Due to the high temperature resistance, good high-temperature strength, and corrosion resistance of carbon and graphite products, many metallurgical furnaces can be lined with carbon blocks, such as the bottom, hearth, and belly of ironmaking furnaces, the lining of ferroalloy furnaces and calcium carbide furnaces, and the bottom and sides of aluminum electrolysis tanks. Many crucibles used for smelting precious and rare metals, as well as graphite crucibles used for melting quartz glass, are also made from graphite billets. Carbon and graphite products used as refractory materials should generally not be used in oxidizing atmospheres. Because carbon or graphite quickly burns away under high temperatures in an oxidizing atmosphere.