Abstract:The effects of Y₂O₃and CeO₂ in the rare earth tungsten electrodes of W-Y₂O₃, W-CeO₂and W-Y₂O₃-CeO₂ on the processing and operating characteristics were discussed. The results suggested that the growth of tungsten powders and sintered crystal granularity is greatly retarded by Y₂O₃, and hindrance of CeO₂ is comparatively slighter. It was also indicated that tungstates or oxytungstates are the most phases of rare earth elements in the sintered rod, and its stability will affect the forming process. W-Y₂O₃-CeO₂ electrode has superior properties of arc starting and consumption resistance. And it is shown that the distribution characteristics of rare earth elements in the surface layer of electrode tip as well as the thermal stability of rare earth compounds are the determinate factors of the characteristics of electrodes’arc starting and consumption resistance.

Key words: Y₂O₃　CeO₂　tungsten electrode　arc-starting　consumption