Graphite electrodes are mainly made of petroleum coke and needle coke as raw materials, coal tar pitch as a binder, and are made through calcination, batching, kneading, molding, roasting, graphitization, and machining. They are conductors that release electrical energy in the form of an electric arc in an electric arc furnace to heat and melt the furnace charge. According to their quality indicators, they can be divided into ordinary power graphite electrodes, high power graphite electrodes, and ultra high power graphite electrodes.

The main raw material for the production of graphite electrodes is petroleum coke. A small amount of asphalt coke can be added to ordinary power graphite electrodes. The sulfur content of petroleum coke and asphalt coke cannot exceed 0.5%. Needle-shaped coke is also needed to produce high-power or ultra-high-power graphite electrodes. The main raw material for aluminum anode production is petroleum coke, and the sulfur content shall be controlled to be no more than 1.5%~2%. Petroleum coke and asphalt coke shall meet relevant national quality standards.