The history of graphite electrodes

1. The history of graphite electrodes
1: 1990
Paul Heroult invented the electric arc furnace, and the conductive material used in the steelmaking process is graphite electrodes.
2: 1961
Electric furnaces are equipped with large-capacity transformers, and electric furnace steelmaking is becoming larger.
3: 1971
Refinement of electric arc furnace functions (melting furnace and refining furnace).
4: 1980
The capacity of large electric arc furnace transformer is above 550kVA/t. The transformer capacity per unit capacity of some newly-built steel-making electric furnaces has reached 800 kVA or more, and some electric furnaces have reached 1000-1200 kVA.

Graphite electrode consumption of three-phase (AC) electric arc furnace is 1.5—2.5 kg/ton

2. Introduction to Graphite Electrodes
Graphite electrode, mainly using petroleum coke and needle coke as raw materials, coal tar pitch as a binder, is made by calcination, batching, kneading, pressing, roasting, graphitization, and machining. It is released in the form of electric arc in an electric arc furnace. The conductors used for heating and melting the charge by electric energy can be classified into ordinary power, high power and ultra-high power according to their quality indicators.

3. Instructions for Graphite Electrode

1. Damp graphite electrodes should be dried before use.
2. Remove the foam plastic protective cap on the spare graphite electrode hole, and check whether the internal thread of the electrode hole is complete. 3. Use oil and water-free compressed air to clean the surface of the spare graphite electrode and the internal thread of the hole; avoid cleaning with steel wire or metal brush and emery cloth. 4. Carefully screw the connector into the electrode hole at one end of the spare graphite electrode (it is not recommended to directly install the connector into the electrode removed from the furnace), and do not hit the thread.
3. Screw the electrode sling (graphite sling is recommended) into the electrode hole at the other end of the spare electrode. 6. When lifting the electrode, pad a soft object under one end of the spare electrode mounting connector to prevent the ground from damaging the connector; use a hook to extend into the hoisting ring of the spreader and then hoist it. Lift the electrode smoothly to prevent the electrode from loosening from the B end. Take off or collide with other fixtures. 7. Lift the spare electrode above the electrode to be connected, align it with the electrode hole, and then slowly drop it; rotate the spare electrode to make the spiral hook and the electrode rotate and drop together; when the end faces of the two electrodes are 10-20mm apart, use compressed air again Clean the two end faces of the electrode and the exposed part of the connector; when the electrode is fully lowered at the end, do not be too strong, otherwise the electrode hole and the thread of the connector will be damaged due to violent collision.
4. Use a torque wrench to screw the spare electrode until the end faces of the two electrodes are in close contact (the correct connection gap between the electrode and the connector is less than 0.05mm).

Graphite is very common in nature, and graphene is the strongest substance known to man, but it may still take years or even decades for scientists to find a "film" that converts graphite into large sheets of high-quality graphene. Method, so that they can be used to make a variety of useful substances for mankind.

According to scientists, in addition to being extremely strong, graphene also has a series of unique properties. Graphene is currently the best-known conductive material, which makes it also has great application potential in the field of microelectronics. Researchers even see graphene as an alternative to silicon that can be used to produce future supercomputers.

Fourth, the superiority of graphite electrodes
Note: Graphite electrode for EDM, also called copper male

1: The increasing complexity of the mold geometry and the diversification of product applications have led to higher and higher requirements for the discharge accuracy of the spark machine. The advantages of graphite electrodes are easier processing, high removal rate of electrical discharge machining, and low graphite loss. Therefore, some group-based spark machine customers abandon copper electrodes and switch to graphite electrodes. In addition, some special-shaped electrodes cannot be made of copper, but graphite is easier to form, and copper electrodes are heavier and not suitable for processing large electrodes. These factors have caused some group-based spark machine customers to use graphite electrodes.

2: Graphite electrodes are easier to process, and the processing speed is significantly faster than copper electrodes. For example, the use of milling technology to process graphite is 2 to 3 times faster than other metal processing and does not require additional manual processing