Why Are Electrodes Made of Graphite?
why are electrodes made of graphite?
Electrodes are the key parts of an electrochemical cell, which allows scientists to move electricity through different materials and reactions. Graphite is an excellent conductor of electricity, largely due to its atomic structure. It has layers of carbon atoms that are arranged in a hexagonal pattern, and the electrons are able to travel freely through the material.
Graphite is also chemically stable, and can withstand high temperatures. Graphite is used in a wide variety of electrochemical cells, including batteries and welding machines.
Electric Arc Furnace / Size: 75 mm to 750 mm (2.5 inches to 2.5 feet). DC furnaces require 1 column of graphite electrodes, and they are usually the standard size in electric furnaces.
UHP & HP electrodes for EAF / Size: 250 mm to 900 mm (8 inches to 27 inches). These electrodes are typically used in EAF for melting scrap steel.
Lithium-ion Battery / Size: 20-28 inches for the high and medium voltages, and the high current density. This is the normal size for alternating current (AC) electrodes.
Metal based electrodes are expensive, but graphite is inexpensive. It can be mined from geological deposits and produced synthetically, so it is a very cost-effective material.
The atomic structure of graphite makes it an excellent conductor of electrical energy, and it is therefore one of the most common materials for electrodes. It is a good choice for an electrode because it is chemically stable, withstands high temperatures, and is relatively inexpensive to make.
