What are the uses of electrode paste?

What is electrode paste?

Electrode paste is defined as a consumable conductive material used in the production of calcium carbide, ferroalloys, and yellow phosphorus in the submerged arc furnace.

The electrode paste is baked used for the heat source of an electric furnace to form a self-baking electrode. The self-baking electrode is a metal shell filled with electrode paste. When the furnace is hot and the current passes through the electrode, heat is generated, and the electrode paste is baked to become a conductive electrode.

Generally, manufacturers use raw materials during the production process including: Anthracite, metallurgical coke, pitch coke, graphite, and additives.

Properties:

Electrical conductivity: It promotes the efficient transmission of electrical energy to generate high temperatures to melt scrap metal.
Thermal stability: Its ability to withstand extreme temperatures (up to 3000°C) inside the EAF without degradation.
Mechanical strength: The electrode paste provides structural integrity to the electrode, ensuring that it can withstand mechanical stress and vibration during operation.

Uses of electrode paste in smelting:

Self-baking electrode paste is used for the main raw material to burn into electrodes. In the submerged arc furnace, the quality of the electrode directly affects the product production. Electrodes play the role of conducting current and converting electrical energy into heat energy in electric furnaces.

In industrial production, current is input into the furnace through electrodes to generate arcs. The arc energy is mainly used to release heat and produce products through high-temperature smelting.

Advantages of using electrode paste in electric furnace

High temperature resistance: electrode paste works stably in the high temperature environment of ferroalloy furnaces and calcium carbide furnaces.

Small thermal expansion coefficient: it can still maintain dimensional stability when the temperature in the furnace changes.

High oxidation resistance: because the electrode paste has low porosity, it oxidizes slowly at high temperatures, extending the life of the electrode.

Low cost: the raw materials and production process are relatively simple, making the price of electrode paste much lower than that of other carbon materials. (such as carbon electrode).

Conclusion:

With the development of ferroalloy and calcium carbide industries, the demand for electrode paste products is also increasing. As an important raw material used in the production of electric furnaces, its mechanical strength and high temperature resistance determine the high efficiency of production.