Abstract: Rare-earth tungsten electrodes generate defects during the processing, thus affecting the processing properties.Aiming at the two typical defects, which were the microstructure nonuniform and the sintered samples powdered, the reasons for the defects were investigated by the analysisi and component and microstructure. The results show that the microstructure nonuniform is caused by unevenly stress, which lead to the grain orientation different. The orientations which is not conducive to slip lead to processing obstruction. The rare-earth oxides in the samples reacte with water at the grain boundary,when the sample is placed for a long time, which results the sample changing into the powder.