In a narrow sense, graphite electrodes can conduct current and generate electricity. They are used to melt scrap iron or other raw materials in blast furnaces to produce steel and other metal products. They are mainly used for steelmaking, as well as for smelting yellow phosphorus, industrial silicon, abrasives, etc. Graphite electrode is the only material with low resistivity and withstands the thermal gradient in the electric arc furnace. It is a conductor that releases electric energy in the form of an arc to heat and melt the charge. According to the processing technology, it is divided into three types: ordinary power graphite electrode (RP), high power graphite electrode (HP) and ultra high power graphite electrode (UHP).

Graphite electrodes in a broad sense also include graphite products that can conduct current with similar or identical usage principles. The shape and specifications can be customized. Including small-sized graphite electrodes, electrodes used for electric arc furnaces with a diameter of 50-150mm; and spectrally pure carbon electrodes used for GDMS glow discharge mass spectrometry (glow discharge mass spectrometry) impurity composition analysis of high-purity materials, such as petroleum impurity composition analysis.