Electrode for silicon alloys and silicon metal

An electric arc furnace comprising:

• a furnace body containing a charge to be heated;
• an in situ self-baking electrode comprising:
• an elongated open ended electrically conductive casing having an upper end and a bottom end, said casing extending generally vertically within the furnace body and being free to slip vertically through a slipping mechanism;
• a central core disposed within and spaced from the casing, the central core being made of heat conductive material;
• at least one framework within the casing, the framework securing the central core to an inner surface of the casing for holding centrally the central core within the casing and for preventing an extrusion of the central core downward through the bottom end of the casing;
• a carbonaceous electrode paste surrounding the central core, the paste being devised to cure into a solid electrode upon heating and to bond to the central core;
• means for retaining the casing in a generally vertical position within the furnace body;
• and
• electric means for generating an electric arc in the furnace, the electric means comprising a contact on the casing.

A process for forming in situ a self-baking electrode in an electric arc furnace, the process comprising the steps of:

• a) providing an elongated open ended electrically conductive casing;
• b) disposing a central core of conductive heat material within and spaced from the casing;
• c) securing the central core to an inner surface of the casing and holding it centrally within the casing;
• d) sliding generally vertically the elongated electrically conductive casing within the furnace;
• e) introducing a quantity of carbonaceous electrode paste in the casing so that said paste surrounds the central core, the paste being devised to cure into a solid electrode upon heating and to bond to the central core;
• and
• f) contacting the casing to an electric power source;
• and
• g) generating with said electric power source an electric arc into the furnace.