Graphite electrodes are primarily used in electric arc steelmaking furnaces and electric resistance furnaces, featuring high electrical conductivity and heat resistance. In electric arc steelmaking furnaces, graphite electrodes are used to introduce current, generating high temperatures through an electric arc for smelting. Approximately 70% to 80% of graphite electrode usage is for steelmaking. In electric resistance furnaces, graphite electrodes are used to produce industrial silicon and yellow phosphorus, where their electrical conductivity and heat resistance are crucial.

Graphite electrodes are mainly made from petroleum coke and needle coke as raw materials, with coal tar pitch as a binder. The process involves calcination, batching, kneading, molding, baking, graphitization, and machining. They serve as conductors that release electrical energy in the form of an electric arc to heat and melt furnace materials within electric arc furnaces. Based on their quality indicators, they can be categorized into ordinary power graphite electrodes, high-power graphite electrodes, and ultra-high-power graphite electrodes.