Manufacture of a Soderberg electrode incorporating a high carbon- contributing phenolic sacrificial binder

摘要

The invention is a novel Soderberg electrode paste composition. The composition is a mixture comprising carbonaceous aggregate, novolac resin binder, plasticizer and optionally hexamethylenetetramine. The novolac resin of the binder has a melting point of at least 100 C. and a free phenol content of not more than 4% by weight based on the weight of novolac resin solids. The residual coking value of the composition of the invention is at least as great as the minimum preferred coking value of traditional Soderberg pastes which are based on coal tar pitch binder.