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Materials for high performance
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Liu Fuzhong
AS consumers we all wish our car engines could run a long time without servicing, while engineers dream of bearings that can last forever.
However the sad fact is that all natural metals deteriorate, thanks to oxidation and everyday wear and tear. Scientists with the National Coating Material Engineering Technology Centre, which officially opened on Wednesday in Shenzhen, offers high-performance coatings that offer the possibility of longer-lasting materials.
The centre is the first national research and development body specializing in new materials to be built under the national scientific development programme code-named 863.
At the launch ceremony, scientists with the centre demonstrated new oxidized aluminum engineered under high temperature conditions. The new coating materials have heat-resistance abilities similar to ceramics, and are as tough as diamonds.
Scientists say with these coating materials one can expect longer-lasting drills, engines and other devices that can work under high temperature and rough conditions.
According to Shi Likai, the chief scientist of the new materials expert panel of the 863 programme, the centre bears special significance in that it integrates all needed functions like developing, demonstrating, promoting and commercializing new materials research results from the 863 programme.
Shi said that the programme has already turned out leading-edge technologies in new materials development over the past 15 years. The centre will work closely with small and medium-sized companies in the area to turn their technologies into marketable products, according to Shi.
The centre involves an investment of nine million yuan from the local government and was spearheaded by a local productivity promotion centre.
The consolidation of research capacity in Shenzhen will greatly help local material firms who otherwise would have to incur high costs in finding the right technology.
Vice-Mayor Wang Suiming said the centre demonstrates good collaboration between research institutes, companies and intermediary firms.
Chengdu Southwest Physics Research Centre, Xi'an Jiaotong University and Beijing Normal University were also involved in the centre to provide technology support.
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