" R&D Carbon operates a worldwide unique, independent laboratory and pilot plant to study carbon materials used for the carbon electrode industry. "
Julien Wyss
CTO
R&D Carbon's experts analyze the carbon materials used in the metal industry.
With many years of data analysis and a worldwide raw materials know-how, we offer a wide range of analyses to our customers, from single parameter analysis to complete evaluation.
Our independent test results are globally recognized.
Analytical Services
Punctual Sample Analysis
Many activities of the laboratory occur on an irregular basis on short term notice. Such activities may include a quick raw material evaluation. The procurement department of a smelter may send some coke samples of a new supplier to check the compatibility with the existing raw materials. In such a case a full analysis of the new and the reference coke followed by a bench-scale test will provide valuable information long before the potential new coke is processed in the plant. Preliminary tests may be conducted, when a plant experiences problems in its pot rooms, such as a carbon dusting or anode cracking problem. The information gained from these tests often gives valuable indications of the potential root cause(s) of the problem. This allows for resolving the actual problem much more efficiently during the subsequent plant visit.
Cross Check & Round Robin
R&D Carbon regularly conducts round-robin tests to support other laboratories to ensure the accuracy of their measurements. For owners of laboratory test equipment from R&D Carbon, support service is available for maintenance, repair and certification. This allows assuring the comparability of the test results found on carbon materials.
Routine Analysis
Prebaked and Söderberg anode plants can send regularly samples of anodes and raw materials for analysis of the relevant properties in weekly, bi-weekly or monthly intervals. Often, these plants operate also their laboratory. But the test results provided by R&D Carbon are usually broader and accompanied by an evaluation of actual trends that are presented graphically.The short lead time makes it also interesting for plants, which could send the samples to their corporate laboratory. The third-party opinion given in the comprehensive reports is an important support for the responsible plant personnel in their decisions about raw material procurement and plant operation.
Certification & Arbitrage
Many suppliers of coke, pitch, prebaked anodes, but also of special products (such as Söderberg briquets or ramming paste) appreciate the service or R&D Carbon for independent certification of their product shipments. The quality sheet as part of the technical report brings an added value to the product, as the particular advantages claimed by the producer get much more transparent.R&D Carbon is also regularly contacted as an independent party for arbitrage questions. Either suppliers or consumers send samples for analysis to crosscheck whether the specifications are met.
Standard Test Schedule
R&D Carbon’s laboratory has developed typical sets of analysis to be performed in order to have a full overview of the product quality depending on their final application. The main ones are described here below.
Anode Butts
Baked Anode Core
Baked Ramming Paste
Baked Soederberg Paste
Aluminium
Baked Soederberg Paste
Arc Furnaces
Benchscale
Calcined Coke
Cathode Core Horizontal
Cathode Core Vertical
Fines
Graphite Electrode
Cores Longitudinal
Graphite Electrode
Cores Transversal
Green Coke
Pilot Anodes
Pitch
List of Analysis
Our State-of-the-Art laboratory provides all types of carbon analysis based on international standards and internal methods. According to our client's needs, specific properties can be selected in the following list and tested. In case of special requirements, R&D Carbon would be pleased to provide its guidance for the selection of appropriate properties.