冶(ye)金工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)業(ye)(ye)是指開采、燒結金屬(shu)礦石并對其(qi)進行冶(ye)煉(lian)、加(jia)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)成(cheng)金屬(shu)材料(liao)的工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)業(ye)(ye)部門。分為：(1) 黑色冶(ye)金工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)業(ye)(ye)，即生產鐵(tie)、鉻、錳及其(qi)合金的工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)業(ye)(ye)部門，它主(zhu)要為現代工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)業(ye)(ye)、交通運輸、基本建設和(he)軍事裝備提供原材料(liao)；(2) 有色冶(ye)金工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)業(ye)(ye)，即生產非黑色金屬(shu)的金屬(shu)煉(lian)制(zhi)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)業(ye)(ye)部門，如煉(lian)銅工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)業(ye)(ye)、制(zhi)鋁工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)業(ye)(ye)、鉛鋅(xin)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)業(ye)(ye)、鎳鈷工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)業(ye)(ye)、煉(lian)錫工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)業(ye)(ye)、貴金屬(shu)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)業(ye)(ye)、稀(xi)有金屬(shu)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)業(ye)(ye)等部門。

在冶煉鋼(gang)鐵行業(ye)廣泛應用的石(shi)墨(mo)電極，主要以(yi)石(shi)油焦、針(zhen)狀焦為原料，煤瀝青作結合劑，經煅燒、配料、混(hun)捏(nie)、壓型、焙(bei)燒、石(shi)墨(mo)化、機加工(gong)而制成，是(shi)在電弧(hu)爐中(zhong)以(yi)電弧(hu)形式(shi)釋(shi)放電能對爐料進行加熱熔(rong)化的導體，根據其(qi)質量(liang)指標高(gao)低，可分(fen)為普通功(gong)率、高(gao)功(gong)率和(he)功(gong)率。