All categories
Featured selections
Trade Assurance
Buyer Central
Help Center
Get the app
Become a supplier
(18331 products available)
Electrodes are metallic conductors and prominent tools applied in different industrial operations. They are used during electrolysis, welding, and in various medical and electronic equipment. They come in diverse types tailored for specific applications due to manufacturers' and industries' needs. Therefore, the following are the prominent electrodes with their average price:
Carbon Electrodes
Average price: $2.5–$20 per piece
This type of electrode is primarily utilized in arc lamps, batteries, and electrodialysis systems. It has a high heat resistance; hence, it's suitable for many operations. Carbon electrodes are flexible and generally favorable due to their affordability and longevity.
Metal Electrodes
Average price: $10–$100 per set
Metal electrodes, such as platinum and gold, are used in precision devices and catalytic systems due to their conductivity and corrosion resistance. Although more expensive than other carbon sources, metal electrodes are crucial in high-stakes industries like pharmaceuticals and electronics.
Consumable Welding Electrodes
Average price: $50–$150 per 10 kg
In operations like Shield Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), Solid Wire, and Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW), eating up welding electrodes is important. It is called a consumable electrode because it burns as the welding progresses. The type of electrode required depends on the base material and the type of welding done.
Non-consumable Electrodes
Average price: $20–$80 per unit
Non-consumable electrodes are used in welding processes such as Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) or TIG welding. Typically made of tungsten, these electrodes do not melt during the welding process, which ensures a steady arc and precise welding. Prices vary according to tungsten alloy.
pH Electrodes
Average price: $20–$500 per unit
pH electrodes measure acidity or alkalinity in different solutions. Glass and combination pH meters are significantly applied in labs and chemical industries. Although some versions can be expensive, their precision and relevance in quality control are foregone conclusions for many industries.
Material Quality
Electrode material determines its price and functionality; quality matters. Autogenous and high-quality electrodes, such as those made of tungsten and precious metals, would cost more due to availability and processing complexities. Cheap quality or materials will produce less heat and a low arc, while high-quality materials will produce high heat and a high arc.
Production Methods
Some electrodes are fabricated through intensive and complex procedures, including those with coated welding electrodes. Techniques like alloying, coating application, and shaping can significantly increase the production cost of electrodes, thus affecting their weld pricing.
Demand in other Industry Applications
The increase in the usage of electrodes in various applications like pH testing, batteries, and electrochemistry had increased their demand. This general demand leads to scarcity or price hikes during peak demand periods. E.g., emergency repairs in the manufacturing sector.
Transportation and Accessibility
Transportation costs directly impact the electrode prices in remote locations. If an area has limited access to specific materials due to transportation costs, the electrode prices will go higher. In contrast, in areas with easy and better access to the material, the price will be lower due to lower transportation costs.
Market Competition and Pricing Policies
The competition level among different suppliers can influence electrode prices. Suppliers well-positioned in their market can provide competitive pricing because of their price advantages to win more customers. However, exclusive brands and some having less competition might not lower their prices despite what it takes.
The type of electrode needed varies greatly, even in mildly associated industries, depending on the precise application and material regarding conductivity, temperature endurance, and potential chemical resistance. Picking the right electrode involves understanding its characteristics and how they relate to the task. Below are wayouts of choosing the electrode for various operations:
Welding
In welding, electrodes supply the necessary heat to join metals. For manual welding, for instance, in steel constructions, choose mild or low hydrogen coating electrodes depending on the required mechanical properties. For stainless steel welding, use a filler that aligns with the alloying element of the base metal.
Electrolysis
Electrode material has to withstand corrosion and oxidation in processes like electroplating or battery production. Carbon or platinum electrodes are favored due to their chemical stability and high electrical conductivity. These electrodes ensure quality deposition in plating and uniform current in battery systems.
Medical Applications
In medical treatments such as stimulation and monitoring, electrodes with high accuracy and biocompatibility are required. Silver/silver chloride and gold-plated electrodes are commonly used in medical applications, such as electrocardiograms (ECGs) and other diagnostic procedures due to their stability, low allergic reaction, and minimal skin irritation.
Industrial Monitoring
pH and ion-sensitive field effect transistors (ISFETs) require electrodes in industrial monitoring and control. Glass and solid-state electrodes measure acidity and ion concentration with accuracy. These electrodes are tailored to provide real-time feedback in chemical processes, thus ensuring safety and efficiency in operation.
Electrochemical Sensors
For environmental monitoring and medical diagnostics applications, corrosion-resistant electrodes are needed, such as gold, platinum, and glassy carbon. These sensors track the current changes in concentration of specific analytes to give essential data on pollutant levels or glucose concentration, for example.
Understanding the need to maintain electrodes boosts their performance and, ultimately, the operation they have been applied to. The protection of these tools from wear, contamination, and other defects prolongs their usefulness and guarantees safety and efficiency. Below are several maintenance tips when dealing with electrodes:
Storage
Proper storage of electrodes is essential, as is protection from moisture, dust, or any other form of contamination. This is especially important for non-consumable tungsten and pH electrodes, where special storage containers are crafted to protect them from mishaps. Coated electrodes should be kept in a dry environment because exposure to humidity will cause moisture to get absorbed by the coating and degrade it.
Cleanliness
Cleaning the electrode is one way to ensure or boost its efficiency. For example, residues, oxides, or previously deposited materials on electrodes can reduce their effectiveness if not cleaned. Use appropriate cleaning methods such as brushing, chemical cleaning, or mechanical cleaning to clean well the pH and welding electrodes and, in a way, the tungsten electrode.
Inspection
It's important to do inspections regularly to find any cracks, contamination, or abnormal wear on electrodes. While some electrodes, like welding rods, may undergo visual inspection, others, like pH and ion-sensitive field effect transistors (ISFET) electrodes, might need examinations under light microscopes. All damaged electrodes must be replaced, as they will give inferior performance if compromised.
Calibration
Calibration of electrodes, particularly in electrochemical and pH devices, is necessary for accuracy. PХ electrochemical sensors need to be calibrated regularly to keep the response time and measurements accurate. Auto compensation and other standard techniques are utilized to compare and correct the output of these sensors that utilize the reference electrode.
Handling
Great care should be taken to prevent mechanical damage or contamination during handling. Additionally, ensure that the hands or else any surfaces that will come in contact with the electrode are free of oils, dust, or foreign materials, especially for medical and chemical application electrodes.
The factors that influence the effective surface area of the electrode metal include pore size distribution, pore shape, and the arrangement of particles in a porous layer. The surface offers a path for ions and electrical current, vital for several electrochemical reactions.
Yes, temperature can have an impact on the type of electrode used in an electrochemical cell. The temperature can affect the reaction rate, ion mobility, and overall cell potential, causing different materials to gain or lose their suitability at certain temperatures.
Glassy carbon electrodes are used in scientific research because they are conductive, chemically stable, and have a low porosity surface that can be polished to obtain a smooth finish. These characteristics make them suitable for measuring current and constructing voltammograms.
Compliance with industry standards may incur additional costs for electrodes, thus contributing to their pricing. Nevertheless, electrodes that have certifications, such as ISO or RoHS, are usually more marketable and, therefore, possess higher prices because they comply with the quality and safety demand.
Active electrodes do participate in electrochemical reactions, while non-active electrodes don't. Only active electrodes are generally applied as current collectors where reactions take place, while non-active ones serve as a structural support base or a vehicle for the electric current flow.
