High-strength erosion electrode

The invention concerns a high-strength erosion electrode having good electrical conductivity. The erosion electrode is made up of a steel core, an intermediate layer of copper or a copper-containing alloy, and an outer layer containing at least 40% zinc or, alternatively, a steel core and a zinc alloy outer layer having a zinc content of from 40-60%. The steel core has a patented structure which contains between 0.6 and 1 wt. % carbon and occupies an area corresponding to between 50 and 75% of the erosion electrode diameter, the intermediate layer occupying an area of between 5 and 40% of the total diameter, the outer layer occupying an area of between 10 and 30%, and the zinc content of the outer layer being between 40 and 60 wt. %. In the alternative embodiment, the steel core occupies an area corresponding to between 50 and 75% of the erosion electrode diameter and the outer layer occupies the balance.