The process in which the carbonaceous binder, usually coal tar pitch or petroleum pitch, as part of a shaped carbon mix is converted to carbon yielding a rigid carbon body by the slow application of heat. The process can take as little as $14\text{days}$ in coarse-grained, electrothermic grades (low binder level) and as long as $36\text{days}$ in ultra-fine-grained, specialty grades (high binder level). The final baking temperature can be in the range of $1100-1500\text{K}$, depending on the grade.