Graphite electrode is made of petroleum coke and needle coke as raw materials and coal pitch as bonding agent by calcining, batching, mixing, pressing, roasting, graphitizing and machining. It is a conductor that releases electric energy in the form of arc in electric arc furnace to heat and melt the charge. According to the power division of graphite electrode can be divided into ordinary power graphite electrode, high power graphite electrode and ultra-high power graphite electrode. Ordinary power graphite electrodes are mainly used in ordinary power electric furnaces for steelmaking, silicon refining, yellow phosphorus refining, etc., and high-power graphite electrodes and ultra-high power graphite electrodes are mainly used in high-power and ultra-high power electric arc furnaces for steelmaking.

Graphite electrodes are mainly used in electric arc furnace steelmaking and LF off-furnace refining, and the two major areas of demand account for more than 80% of graphite electrode consumption. Electric arc furnace steelmaking is based on scrap steel as the main raw material and three-phase alternating current as the power source. The electric current is used to heat and melt the charge through the high temperature of the arc generated between graphite electrode and metal material. In China, electric furnace steelmaking is mainly used in the production of special steel and high alloy steel, accounting for more than 55% of graphite electrode consumption. LF furnace refining technology is mainly to refine the molten steel produced by the primary smelting furnace (electric furnace or converter), so as to achieve the reduction of oxygen and sulfur content, improve the quality of molten steel, adjust the temperature of molten steel, is an indispensable equipment for alloy steel continuous casting production line. LF refining furnaces generally use three electrodes, which account for 25%-30% of graphite electrode consumption. Foreign electric furnace steelmaking has a greater proportion of graphite electrode consumption, and 75% of the sales of Graftech graphite electrodes in the United States are used in electric furnace steelmaking.