Process of making graphite articles

摘要

A new process for preparing a graphite article such as a graphite electrode or cathode is described. The process comprises (a) mixing (i) a particulate fraction comprising at least about 35 weight percent coke, coal or mixtures thereof having a diameter such that a major fraction passes through a 25 mm mesh screen but not a 0.25 mm mesh screen, and (ii) a pitch binder, to form a stock blend; (b) extruding the stock blend to form a green stock; (c) baking the green stock to form a carbonized stock; and (d) graphitizing the carbonized stock by maintaining the carbonized stock at a temperature of at least about 2500 degree C. A graphite electrode column made using the new process has sufficient strength to maintain the integrity of the graphite electrode column without use of a pin, has increased resistance to cracking and has reduced brittleness, when plural such graphite electrode columns are used to form a graphite electrode.