【Frontiers in HaiChuan Chemical Technology】Sinopec produces large-scale ultra-high-power graphite electrodes with a diameter of 700 millimeters using needle coke

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On March 3, the large-sized ultra-high power graphite electrodes with a diameter of 700 millimeters, made from Jinling needle coke produced using Sinopec (Dalian) Research Institute of Petrochemical Technology’s THTD technology, completed their graphitization process. Tests have shown that all parameters of the graphite electrodes are within normal ranges, indicating that Sinopec’s needle coke products have reached a new level in their high-end application in the graphite electrode industry. 　　In 2024, with strong support from the Science and Technology Department and the Refining Division of Sinopec Group, Dalian Research Institute, together with Jinling Petrochemical and Shanghai Refining and Marketing Company, carried out research on advanced application technologies for Jinling’s needle coke products. In the field of graphite electrodes, the research team successfully developed a technology for producing ultra-high power graphite electrodes with a diameter of 600 millimeters using Jinling needle coke, and these electrodes have been successfully adopted by several downstream steel mills. In the field of lithium-ion battery anode materials, they have achieved the production of needle coke, which is used as an anode material for high-capacity lithium-ion batteries. According to evaluations by downstream anode manufacturers, the specific discharge capacity of Jinling’s needle coke product at the first discharge was 359.6 milliampere-hours per gram, which is on par with high-capacity imported needle coke products and meets the requirements for anode materials in high-capacity lithium-ion batteries. 　　At the beginning of 2025, the R&D teams from Dalian Institute and Jinling Petrochemical continued their efforts to develop ultra-high power graphite electrode needle coke with a diameter of 700 millimeters, building on their previous work in developing such products with a diameter of 600 millimeters. They focused on optimizing raw material compositions, adjusting process parameters, and ensuring product quality. By adopting a strategy specific to each type of raw material, they developed scientific production plans for needle coke, which led to significant improvements in the key performance indicators of Jinling’s needle coke products. Moreover, it became possible for downstream graphite electrode manufacturers to carry out processes such as extrusion, impregnation, calcination, and graphitization of ultra-high power graphite electrodes with a diameter of 700 millimeters, laying a solid foundation for Sinopec to create high-quality needle coke products.