Molybdenum electrode: The core material for high-performance high-temperature electric heat conduction
In the field of high-temperature melting in modern industry, especially in the glass, optical fiber and rare earth industries, the performance of electrode materials directly determines the efficiency of the production process, product quality and cost. Among various options, molybdenum electrodes, due to their irreplaceable outstanding performance, have become the champion in the field of high-temperature electric heat conduction.
Why choose molybdenum electrodes? - An analysis of outstanding performance
The success of molybdenum electrodes stems from the unique physical and chemical properties of molybdenum itself:
Extremely high melting point (2620℃): The melting point of molybdenum is much higher than that of most glasses and minerals. It can operate stably without melting at temperatures ranging from 1600 to 1800℃.
Excellent high-temperature strength: In high-temperature environments, molybdenum can still maintain extremely high mechanical strength and creep resistance, preventing bending or deformation under the influence of high temperatures and the erosion of the molten glass.
High corrosion resistance: It has excellent corrosion resistance against most acidic glasses and mineral melts. Its service life is much longer than that of traditional graphite electrodes, and it does not introduce impurities such as carbon bubbles into the melt like graphite electrodes, significantly improving the purity and quality of glass products.
Excellent conductivity: Ensures high efficiency in electrical-to-thermal conversion, achieving energy conservation and reduction of consumption.
Production of molybdenum electrodes: From powder to precision rods
The main form of molybdenum electrodes is the molybdenum rod. Their production is a high-tech process that integrates powder metallurgy and pressure processing. The core steps are as follows:
Powder preparation: High-purity molybdenum powder (with a purity typically ≥ 99.95%) is used as the raw material, which is the basis for ensuring the final electrode performance.
Isostatic pressing (CIP): Mo powder is loaded into an elastic mold, and ultra-high pressure (typically 200-300 MPa) is applied by an isostatic press to form a uniformly dense billet (green piece).
High-temperature sintering: The formed green bodies are subjected to sintering in a hydrogen-protected high-temperature vertical melting sintering furnace or a medium-frequency sintering furnace at a temperature range of 1800 - 2200℃. This process causes the particles of molybdenum powder to bond together through diffusion to form a dense metal, resulting in a molybdenum sintered rod blank.
Hot forging/hot rolling: After the sintered molybdenum rod billet is heated above the recrystallization temperature, it undergoes multiple forging or rolling processes, which break the initial sintered grain structure, significantly improving the density, strength and toughness of the material.
Spinning forging/ Drawing: Using a spinning forging machine or drawing machine, the bar stock is further processed to the final required diameter (such as from Φ20mm to above Φ100mm), and excellent surface finish and dimensional accuracy are achieved.
Machining and cleaning: Finally, the parts are finely ground using an uncoated grinding machine to ensure the diameter tolerance and straightness. After ultrasonic cleaning and drying, they are vacuum-packed in a clean environment to prevent oxidation.
The core objective of the entire production process is to obtain high-quality molybdenum rods that are uniformly organized, have fine grains, high density, and consistent performance. These rods serve as the base material for manufacturing high-performance molybdenum electrodes.
The core application fields of molybdenum electrodes
Due to its outstanding performance, molybdenum electrodes are widely used in the following high-tech fields:
Glass fiber and specialty glass industry (the largest application field):
The pool kiln for producing glass fiber serves as the electrically heated electrode rod. The corrosion-resistant and pollution-free characteristics of the molybdenum electrode ensure the high quality of the glass liquid and the stability of the drawing process.
It is used for melting special types of glass such as optical glass, liquid crystal glass substrates, and pharmaceutical glass. The resulting glass has few bubbles, high purity, and excellent chemical uniformity.
Rare earth and magnetic materials industry:
In the rare earth smelting furnace, molybdenum electrodes are used for smelting permanent magnetic materials such as neodymium iron boron. Their high-temperature strength and stability meet the demanding requirements of high-temperature and long-term smelting.
Blue sapphire crystal growth:
In some sapphire crystal growth furnaces (such as the heat exchange method), molybdenum electrodes are used as heating elements to provide a uniform and stable high-temperature environment for crystal growth.
High-temperature vacuum furnace:
It is used as the heating element for vacuum sintering furnaces and atmosphere sintering furnaces, with a maximum operating temperature of up to 1800℃.
The molybdenum electrode is not merely an ordinary industrial consumable; rather, it is a core technology and guarantee for high-end high-temperature electric heating processes, especially for the melting of high-quality glass. Its production constitutes a highly technical process chain, ultimately resulting in numerous high-performance molybdenum rods. Choosing high-quality molybdenum electrodes means opting for higher product purity, more stable production processes, longer service life, and lower overall operating costs. It is an important cornerstone for promoting the development of special glass, optical fiber communication, and new energy material industries.
Molybdenum Electrode is in demand 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.
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