Where does nuclear grade graphite required by China come from? It is rarely known that Yichang is the only supply base.
It is even less known that Yichang is the only new materials industry pilot city in many national pilot projects undertaken by Yichang.
Last October, National Development & Reform Commission (NDRC) and Ministry of Finance gave an official written reply that by 2016, the industrial output value of Yichang new materials industry have been expected to reach more than RMB 100 billion (about $16,179,999,709). Besides, priority should be given to breakthroughs making in key technologies such as graphite, giant magneto resistance, high-end silicon based and high-end fluorine based materials. Relatively complete industrial chain and technology innovation system will be roughly established as well. Furthermore, Yichang should endeavor to become a new materials industry cluster with international competitiveness.
Yichang new materials industry, with a national mission, stepping forward to break the ice.
The Reasons for “the Only”
In the possession of three unique conditions, China has no choice but to take Yichang as the pilot city in search for new material industry pilot cities.
Firstly, Yichang is advantageous in having basic raw materials for the development of non-metallic functional materials. 84 kinds of minerals have been found in the territory, which accounts for 51.5% of the minerals found in China and 62% in Hubei province. Among them 84 kinds are non-metallic, 35 kinds, metal ores. 38 kinds of minerals’ industry reserve have been ascertained. 13 kinds of mineral resources rank the first in the province, among which, graphite ores’ comprehensive reserve has been known as high as 15.52 million cubic meters. It is the only flake graphite mine in the mid-south region. Ore resources rank the first and their reserves rank the third in China.
Secondly, Yichang has a strong innovation system. There are 21 enterprise technology centers identified by the country and the province. They are engaged in the research and development of non-metallic functional materials. The number of national high-tech enterprises reaches 27.
In addition, new material industry becomes one of the seven strategic emerging industries on which our country concentrates for development. It is also one of the “six 100 billion industries” on which Yichang focuses. In 2012, the output value of Yichang new materials industry reached RMB 42.5 billion yuan (about $ 6,876,499,876 dollars), accounting for 34% of the city’s high-tech industrial output value, 18% in the province.
To Improve the “Running” Potentials
Dangyang Xin Cheng Graphite Company self-developed the ultra-thin expanded graphite paper, which helps the expansion ratio of the ultra-thin graphite paper increase to more than 1500 times. Compared with the similar products at home and abroad, its expansion ratio reaches as high as 3 times. Its economic benefit is 160 times larger than the original products.
Yichang has seriously and officially accumulate potential energy in graphite, GMR (Giant Magneto Resistance), High silicon, High-end fluorine based materials and other key domains. Aiming at fulfilling the mission of “National Pilots” and contending for first place. In 2013, the number of certain sized materials enterprises reached 139, and completed the value of output with the amount of RMB 51.8 billion (＄8384454770.16). In the three quarters of this year, the output value of new materials industry increased by 14.8% compared to the same period last year. During the industrial system of new materials, the enterprises with the output value over billion RMB reaching 62, and over 10 billion reaching 12. They are developing at a rapid speed.
The development and utilization of graphite in Yichang takes a leadin raw in China. The graphite powder dry processed with high purity ultrafine is the exclusive one and the aqueous coating graphite powder material takes initial raw in China. The graphite materials of heat conduction, heat dissipate and heat storage is all initially manufactured in Yichang. Moreover, the expandable graphite product and LTEG (low-temperature expandable graphite) product lead the domestic market and rank the first in the world market.
The advantage of silica-based materials is obvious. For instance, in the “Yichang National Cycle Transformation Demonstration Park”, we took Chlorinated Paraffins, the byproduct of glyphosate device, as the raw materials to produce organolilicone monomer. The producing capacity of quartz crystal material in Yichang took the first place in China and occupied a quarter market share in the domestic market. The capacity of photoelectric material ranked the top three. Besides, the photoelectric ultra-thin glass in Yichang ranked a top place and the full closed loop production was the first one to be realized in the same field of high purity silicon in China.
Industrialization was first realized in the magneto electric function materials industry. We developed SAseries materials with multilayer films giant magneto resistance effect, which got chip industrialized and filled up the domestic blank in this field. The technical indexes of the product achieved the international advanced level. Oriental micro magnetic resistance effect production line of the processing giant magneto resistance effect material is the only industrial production line in China.
The industry of fluorine based materials stands first in China. The raw material of fluorine materials production in the domestic industry originates in the national strategic mineral resources, the fluorite mine. To develop high-end fluorine based materials with comprehensive utilization of fluorine resource associated with phosphate possessed a special meaning. The anhydrous hydrogen fluoride industry project with the output of 20,000 ton per year, which constructed Weng Fu Lan Tian Company will be completed and put into production by the end of this year. At the same time, another industrialization project of high-end fluorine based materials has started its preliminary work.
Making the aircraft carrier in Billions
On 20th, October, Li Weinan, general manager of Yichang CSG Polysilicon Co., Ltd has signed a cooperative agreement with Liang Junwu, a Chinese academician of Academy of Engineering. This means an academician expert workshop has been established formally, which can also help the development of new materials industry. Liang has been engaged in the semiconductor research, managed the extension of public relations of “Seventh-five Year Plan” and “Eighth-five Year Plan” silicon of China and completed the research of microcomputer control, light?heating, low?silicon?epitaxial material growth?and?device.
Jiang Zhengxiong, director of Yichang Development and Reform Commission?said that, The Plan of Yichang New Material?Industry Development (year2013-2016) has appealed a number of talents?with innovative and?leading potentials?to join.
This plan proposed that, by 2016, the whole Industrial output value of Yichang new materials industry will have successfully achieved RMB 100 Billion(＄161859441300) and occupied 30% in Hubei general objectives . And the output value of new functional?material industry will have reached RMB 70 billion(＄11330160891) , the advanced structural?materials industry attains RMB 20 billion(＄3237188826) and the high performance composite?materials industry will run up to RMB100 billion. By 2020, the output value of new materials industry will have made a breakthrough of RMB 200 billion (＄32371888260) in Yichang.
During the planning period, base on the industrial?layout, as many as 222 projects of new materials will be built and RMB 49.8 Billion(＄8060600176.74) will be invested in total. After all the projects finished, the main business income up to RMB 82.9 billion（＄13418147683.80） will be increased.
So far, Yichang the key enterprises and products to be supported by the city government have been confirmed, and the 9 major projects are already under construction.
The New Material Industry is creating a new advantage for Yichang. (Hubei Daily Reporter: Tang Yigui Wang Chenglong Correspondent: Li Yulin (Originally published in the fifth edition of Hubei Daily on 21th November))