Self-baking electrode

A self-baking electrode for an electric arc furnace, said self-baking electrode comprising:

• a substantially cylindrical shroud comprising a longitudinal central axis A, an open upper end, and an open lower end, said shroud being made of an electrically-conductive material and disposed vertically on top of a vat of the furnace over substantially one length of the self-baking electrode;
• a central column disposed within the shroud, substantially aligned on the longitudinal axis A, said central column being adapted to be suspended to a device independent of said shroud such that said central column is adapted to slip in vertical translation within the shroud;
• and
• a crude carbonaceous paste disposed around the central column in a top portion of said shroud, said paste configured to soften and then bake under an effect of heat into a stiff carbonaceous paste sticking to the central column in a bottom portion of said shroud,
• wherein said central column comprises a series of electrically-conductive carbonaceous elongate elements, and wherein said carbonaceous elongate elements are bendable by a lateral force applied to a bottom portion of the central column.