Graphitization furnace

A furnace for heating amorphous cylindrical carbon electrodes to a temperature at which the amorphous carbon is converted to graphite by the application of an electrical current to a horizontal column of said electrodes laid end to end, said furnace comprising a set of U shaped modules having an arc-shaped bottom of approximately 180.degree. and vertical sidewalls, said modules comprising a corrugated sheet metal shell with a cast refractory liner anchored to the shell by wire anchors, said modules forming an elongated horizontal trough with each of said modules isolated electrically and thermally from each other by refractory wool retained by metal plates held in place by counterweights, said furnace having a framework structure supporting said modules in precise alignment resting on refractory piers electrically isolating said furnace from ground, said furnace having at each end an end shell with a case refractory head wall holding an electrode suitable for supply a current to said column sufficient to heat said column to a temperature at which said amorphous carbon electrodes are converted to graphite, said modules supported on support cradle structure at the bottom comprising top and bottom plates joined by trapezoidally corrugated sheet metal, said bottoms of said modules comprising to arc-shaped plates of 90.degree. overlapping at a lowest point sealed with a ceramic wool gasket, thereby allowing limited movement caused by thermal expansion, contraction, and by stress of loading and unloading the furnace, said bottom plates held in contact at said lowest point by counterweights, said overlapping plates forming longitudinal joints in said modules, said framework structure comprising columns resting on adjustable jacking devices resting on refractory piers, said columns adapted to support a strongback structure useful for loading and unloading said electrode column, said modules isolated.