Early Dilemma: The “Cinderella” of the Oil Refining Industry
Background: In the early 20th century, with the widespread adoption of crude oil cracking technology, oil refineries generated a large amount of troublesome by-product—petroleum coke. It was regarded as “the lowest-tier residue” with extremely low utilization value.
Initial Uses: Its primary outlets were serving as a cheap fuel (for power generation and in cement plants) or as a primary raw material for manufacturing carbon electrodes (such as anodes used in aluminum smelting). At this time, its quality varied greatly, and it was considered a “crude and clumsy” material.
Catalyst of War: The Rise of Electric Arc Furnace Steelmaking
Key Turning Point: Around the time of World War II, electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking technology experienced rapid development. The demand for high-performance specialty steels soared during the war. The core component of an EAF is the electrode, which needs to withstand electric arc temperatures as high as 3000°C and possess excellent electrical conductivity.
Material Bottleneck: Ordinary carbon electrodes failed to meet the requirements. They were prone to oxidation, had a fast consumption rate, and low efficiency. People realized that it was necessary to improve the purity and crystal structure of the electrode raw materials.
Introduction of “Graphitization”: At this juncture, the “graphitization” technology, which originated from Edward G. Acheson’s invention of artificial graphite in the late 19th century, was applied to petroleum coke. It was discovered that petroleum coke subjected to high-temperature treatment above 2500°C underwent a qualitative leap in performance, perfectly aligning with the needs of EAF electrodes. This marked the first fundamental turning point in the fate of petroleum coke—its upgrade from a fuel to a key industrial consumable.
Cornerstone of the Industry: Symbiosis with the Aluminum Industry
Symbiotic Relationship: After the war, during the global economic reconstruction, the aluminum industry experienced rapid growth. The Hall-Héroult electrolytic cell for producing metallic aluminum required a large amount of pre-baked anodes, and high-quality petroleum coke (especially low-sulfur “green coke”) was precisely the main raw material.
Demand-Driven Growth: The enormous demand from the aluminum industry stabilized the market for petroleum coke and spurred in-depth research on the quality of petroleum coke (such as sulfur content, metallic impurities, and thermal expansion coefficient), laying a solid industrial foundation for subsequent graphitization applications.
Post time: Oct-10-2025