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The volatile content of electrode paste refers to the percentage of volatile substances produced by the thermal decomposition of the sample under specified high-temperature conditions relative to the original sample mass. It is a core indicator for controlling the sintering speed of the electrode and determining its performance.

When the volatile content is too high: the binder pyrolysis is slow, the electrode sintering is delayed, the strength is insufficient, soft breakage is likely to occur, black smoke is emitted, electrode consumption is increased, the amount of flue gas in the furnace is large, and the operating environment is deteriorated.

When the volatile content is too low: the binder pyrolysis is rapid, the electrode sinters too quickly and becomes too hard, easily causing hard breakage, surface cracks, and spalling. The electrode resistivity increases, increasing power consumption.

The volatile content of electrode paste is not arbitrarily determined; it is calculated and tested based on four core conditions: furnace type, process, electrode operating conditions, and raw material system.

1. Based on furnace type: Closed submerged arc furnaces have high temperatures, poor heat dissipation, and rapid electrode sintering, requiring a higher volatile content; open/semi-closed furnaces have rapid heat dissipation, low temperatures, and slow electrode sintering, requiring a lower volatile content.

2. Based on electrode sintering speed: Volatile content essentially acts as a "sintering speed controller" for the electrode. In production, the volatile content is adjusted based on whether the electrode is prone to hard or soft breakage.

3. Based on raw material system: Volatile content is mainly reflected in the raw material asphalt; therefore, the amount of asphalt added directly determines the volatile content.

The Rongxing technical team will develop and produce specific volatile content ranges for electrode paste based on each customer's actual furnace conditions, ensuring that the electrode paste product meets the customer's furnace requirements and achieves optimal performance.