Major breakthrough! Sinopec needle coke helps produce large-scale ultra-high power graphite electrodes 

On March 3, an exciting news spread in the industry: Jinling needle coke produced by THTD technology of Sinopec (Dalian) Petrochemical Research Institute Co., Ltd. successfully prepared large-scale ultra-high power graphite electrodes with a diameter of 700 mm, and successfully completed the graphitization process. After professional testing, all indicators of the graphite electrode are normal. This achievement is of great significance, marking that the high-end application of Sinopec needle coke products in the field of graphite electrodes has stepped onto a new level, injecting a dose of "heart booster" into the development of related industries. Since 2024, with the strong support of Sinopec Group's Science and Technology Department, Refining Division and other departments, Dalian Institute has joined hands with Jinling Petrochemical and Shanghai Refining and Sales Company to carry out arduous research on the high-end application technology of Jinling needle coke products. In the field of graphite electrodes, the research team successfully completed the technical breakthrough of using Jinling needle coke to produce ultra-high power graphite electrodes with a diameter of 600 mm, and successfully passed the actual application test of many downstream steel mills. In the field of negative electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries, they have also achieved remarkable results and successfully produced needle coke, a negative electrode material for high-capacity lithium-ion batteries. According to evaluations by downstream negative electrode companies, the first discharge specific capacity of Jinling needle coke products reached 359.6 mAh/g, which is comparable to the performance of high-capacity imported needle coke products from abroad, and fully meets the stringent requirements of high-capacity negative electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries. At the beginning of 2025, the research team of Dalian Institute and Jinling Petrochemical was not satisfied with the existing achievements. On the basis of completing the full process research of large-scale ultra-high power graphite electrode needle coke with a diameter of 600 mm, they have been working non-stop to carry out technical research on ultra-high power graphite electrode needle coke products with a diameter of 700 mm. Starting from multiple key links such as raw material ratio optimization, process parameter adjustment, and product quality control, they adhere to the scientific concept of "one raw material, one strategy" and carefully formulate a needle coke production plan. Through unremitting efforts, the key indicators of Jinling needle coke products have been significantly improved, and a series of complex processes such as extrusion molding, impregnation, roasting, and graphitization of ultra-high power graphite electrodes with a diameter of 700 mm have been successfully implemented in downstream graphite electrode companies, laying a solid foundation for Sinopec to build a high-end needle coke product brand. With the implementation of this achievement, it is not only expected to change the situation of long-term dependence on imports in the domestic high-end graphite electrode market and reduce the production costs of related companies, but also to further promote China's technological upgrading and industrial development in the fields of steel smelting and new energy. Against the backdrop of the growing global demand for green and efficient energy, this breakthrough has undoubtedly added a powerful weight to China's related industries in participating in international competition, and the future is promising.