(1) Used in electric arc steelmaking furnaces

Electric arc furnace steelmaking is a major consumer of graphite electrodes. In China, electric‑arc furnace steel accounts for approximately 18% of total crude steel production, and graphite electrodes used in steelmaking comprise 70% to 80% of the country’s total graphite electrode consumption. In this process, current is passed through graphite electrodes into the furnace, and the high‑temperature heat generated by the electric arc between the electrode tips and the charge is utilized for smelting.

(2) Used in submerged arc furnaces

Submerged‑arc furnaces are primarily used for the production of industrial silicon, yellow phosphorus, and similar products. Their defining feature is that the lower portion of the conductive electrodes is buried within the charge, where an electric arc is established. The heat generated by the electrical resistance of the charge itself serves to heat the material. For submerged‑arc furnaces requiring high current densities, graphite electrodes are employed; for example, approximately 100 kg of graphite electrodes are consumed per ton of silicon produced, and about 40 kg per ton of yellow phosphorus.

(3) Used in resistance furnaces

Graphitization furnaces for producing graphite products, glass‑melting tanks, and electric furnaces used in silicon carbide production all belong to the category of resistance furnaces. In these furnaces, the charge serves both as the heating resistor and as the material being heated. Typically, conductive graphite electrodes are embedded in the furnace head walls at the ends of the furnace; the graphite electrodes employed in this manner experience non‑continuous consumption.

(4) Used for the preparation of shaped graphite products

Graphite electrode blanks are also used to manufacture a variety of specialized graphite products, such as crucibles, molds, boat dishes, and heating elements. For example, in the quartz glass industry, producing 1 ton of electric‑fused tubing requires 10 tons of graphite electrode blanks, while manufacturing 1 ton of quartz bricks consumes 100 kg of such blanks.