Needle coke, also called acicular coke, is a highly crystalline petroleum coke used in the production of electrodes for the steel and aluminum industries and is particularly valuable because the electrodes must be replaced regularly and needle coke is produced exclusively from sweet crude and is only made in a few places throughout the world.

Needle coke has acicular morphology and tends to form oriented needle-like structures that are clearly visible to the naked eye. This unique morphology is a reflection of the high degree of liquid crystal alignment occurring when manufactured. This formation is consistent with a coke that is manufactured from highly aromatic character feedstock.

Needle coke is a highly crystalline form of carbon and has a high level of two-dimensional orientations except at the “c” axis direction. When heated to graphitization temperatures, “c” axis orientation is effected forming the highest quality synthetic graphite available.

Calcined needle coke is higher in carbon and lower in ash and metal than traditional calcined pet-coke. It has a better developed layer structure than standard calcined coke giving it unique friction and wearing properties. Calcined needle coke tends to also be softer in nature offering certain friction applications exacting performance characteristics.