The application of molybdenum electrodes in the glass industry
The molybdenum electrode is a special conductive component made with molybdenum, a refractory metal. With its extremely high melting point of 2620℃, excellent high-temperature strength, outstanding electrical and thermal conductivity, and low thermal expansion coefficient, it has become the "heart" of modern glass industry, especially in the field of special glass melting. It has excellent chemical inertness towards glass melts at high temperatures, which is a key guarantee for obtaining high-purity and highly uniform glass products, and directly determines the performance upper limit of glass used in multiple high-end fields such as optics, electronics, and medicine.
The core application scenarios include glass melting. Specifically, they cover: 1) optical glass (such as camera lenses, telescope lenses), ensuring no bubbles and low defects; 2) glass fibers, providing a stable high-temperature heat source to ensure the strength of the fibers; 3) borosilicate glass (such as heat-resistant laboratory vessels, liquid crystal display substrates), achieving low expansion and high chemical stability; 4) neutral glass (such as medicine ampoules, solar vacuum tubes), ensuring an absolutely inert reaction between the glass and the contents. In these fields, molybdenum electrodes are an indispensable foundation for achieving high performance of the glass.
The production process begins with extreme purification: starting from molybdenite ore, through multiple procedures such as oxidation roasting and wet metallurgy, pure molybdenum powder with a purity higher than 99.95% is produced. Subsequently, the molybdenum powder is compressed into high-density billets using isostatic pressing technology, and then placed in a hydrogen atmosphere-protected sintering furnace at temperatures exceeding 2000°C for high-temperature sintering. The hydrogen atmosphere not only prevents oxidation but also reduces residual impurities, enabling the powder particles to form a dense and low-porosity metal matrix through atomic diffusion. This is the first step in obtaining high-strength and corrosion-resistant electrodes.
The sintered molybdenum billets need to undergo thermal mechanical processing such as hot spinning forging and hot rolling to refine the crystal grains, enhance toughness, and improve the high-temperature creep resistance. Subsequently, according to the design of the kiln, precise turning, grinding, and other machining processes are carried out to produce rods or plates of specific dimensions as electrode components. To cope with possible fluctuations in working conditions, the surface of these components is often polished or coated with an anti-oxidation layer (such as a silicide coating) to temporarily resist accidental oxidation and extend their service life.
Each batch of electrodes must undergo multiple rigorous quality inspections, including ultrasonic flaw detection (internal defects), metallographic analysis (grain size), spectral testing (component purity), and high-temperature electrical simulation tests (performance verification). It must be emphasized that the outstanding performance of molybdenum electrodes can only be fully utilized in a vacuum, inert (such as argon) or reducing atmosphere, as they will rapidly oxidize and volatilize in high-temperature air. This characteristic determines the specific kiln environment for their use.
Molybdenum electrodes and their precise manufacturing technology are the key drivers for the development of high-end glass industry, enabling many advanced glass products to move from laboratories to large-scale production. In response to emerging demands such as new energy vehicle glass and new display glass, molybdenum electrodes are evolving towards higher purity, longer lifespan, and more intelligent structural designs. In summary, from selected ores to precise components, the production and application of molybdenum electrodes fully illustrate how material engineering, by mastering extreme conditions, shapes the technological and living foundation of modern society.
Molybdenum sheets are demanded in various parts of the world, such as: USA, Canada, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Sweden, Austria, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Czech Republic, Poland.
As professional Chinese manufacturer, Mosten Alloy can produce and supply molybdenum electrode, molybdenum strip, molybdenum sheet, molybdenum pellet, molybdenum block, molybdenum tube, molybdenum rod, molybdenum wire, molybdenum processing workpiece according to customer demand.
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