Abstract: The effects of Y₂O₃ and CeO₂ on the processing of the tungsten electrodes were analyzed by means of SEM and x-ray diffraction. The results show that the growing of tungsten powders and the crystal granularity after sintering are greatiy retarded by Y₂O₃, and comparatively cess retarded by CeO₂. Beside tungstates or oxytungstates are the main phases of rare earth in the sintered rods, and their stability affects the materials characteristics of heat processing.