Recently, the first domestically produced 20,000 t/a specialty graphite impregnation production line, contracted by Shanghai Boiler Works Co., Ltd. (Shanghai Boiler Works), passed inspection and began full-load production, breaking the long-standing foreign technological monopoly.
The specialty graphite products from this line feature low porosity, high strength, high electrical and thermal conductivity, and high chemical stability. All indicators meet international standards, with some performance metrics reaching world-leading levels. Since its commissioning, the production line has produced over 110 batches of high-quality specialty graphite, totaling more than 8,500 tons, and maintained a 100% pass rate, demonstrating the maturity and stability of domestic technology.
This technological breakthrough was achieved through the joint efforts of the technical teams from Shanghai Boiler Works and the Shanghai branch of Shanghai Electric Group State Owned Huanqiu Engineering Co., Ltd. From R&D and design to on-site installation and commissioning, the project spanned 14 months and successfully overcame a series of technical challenges, laying a solid foundation for the domestic production of specialty graphite.
Specialty graphite is known as a critical material in the nuclear and semiconductor industries, making its domestic production highly important to China. In the nuclear energy industry, the material is widely used as a neutron moderator, reflector material, and spherical and block graphite for high-temperature gas-cooled reactors, ensuring the safe and efficient use of nuclear energy. In the semiconductor industry, high-purity graphite is a core component of the heating system in Czochralski crystal pullers and an indispensable aid in silicon wafer processing, directly affecting the performance and cost of semiconductor devices.