（1）General power graphite electrode
Graphite electrodes with current density less than 17A/cm 2 are allowed to be used in ordinary power electric furnaces such as steelmaking, silicon and yellow phosphorus.
（2）Antioxidant Coated Graphite Electrode
Graphite electrodes are coated with an antioxidant protective layer (graphite electrode antioxidant). The formation of a protective layer which can conduct electricity and resist high temperature oxidation can reduce the consumption of electrodes (19%-50%) in steelmaking, prolong the service life of electrodes (22%-60%) and reduce the consumption of electric energy of electrodes. The popularization of this technology can bring such economic and social effects:
- The unit consumption of graphite electrode is less, and the production cost is reduced to a certain extent. For example, in a steelmaking plant, according to the consumption of about 35 graphite electrodes per week in the first LF refining furnace without shutdown in the whole year and 165 furnace in the refining process, 373 graphite electrodes (153 tons) can be saved annually by using graphite electrode oxidation technology, and 16,900 yuan per ton of ultra-high power electrodes can be calculated annually. It can save 2.5857 million yuan.
- The graphite electrode consumes less electric energy, saves unit steel-making electric consumption, saves production cost and saves energy
- As the number of graphite electrode changes is less, the worker’s workload and risk factor are less, and the production efficiency is improved.
- Graphite electrodes are high consumption and high pollution products. Today, energy saving, emission reduction and environmental protection are advocated, and they have very important social significance.
This technology is still in the stage of research and development in China, and some domestic manufacturers have begun to produce it. It has been widely used in Japan and other developed countries. At present, there are also companies specializing in importing anti-oxidation protective coatings.
（3）High power graphite electrode. Graphite electrodes with current densities of 18-25A/cm 2 are allowed to be used mainly in high-power electric arc furnaces for steelmaking.
（4）Ultra-high power graphite electrode. Graphite electrodes with current density greater than 25A/cm 2 are allowed. It is mainly used in ultra-high power electric arc furnace for steelmaking.
