China successfully develops 5N-grade ultra-pure iron, achieving a major technological breakthrough.
Recently, exciting news has sparked strong reactions in the materials field. A joint research team composed of Shanghai University, Hebei Longfengshan Foundry Co., Ltd., and the Metallurgical Economic Research and Development Center, after years of arduous efforts, has successfully developed 5N-grade ultra-pure iron with purity as high as 99.999%. This breakthrough marks significant progress in China's pure iron preparation technology, officially entering the world's leading ranks.
For a long time, China started relatively late in the research and development of ultra-pure iron materials, with a certain gap compared to international advanced levels. To change this situation, the aforementioned research institutions jointly established the Iron-Based New Materials Research Institute, determined to overcome the technical challenges of ultra-pure iron preparation. After numerous experiments and attempts, the research team finally identified zone melting as the core solution for purifying ultra-pure iron. Moreover, they independently designed and manufactured China's first ultra-high vacuum vertical floating zone induction zone melting furnace, providing key equipment support for ultra-pure iron purification. At the same time, they employed a combination of three methods - electrolysis, vacuum melting, and vacuum vertical zone melting - to conduct comprehensive "purification" of iron raw materials.
After years of unremitting efforts, the research team finally successfully prepared 5N-grade ultra-pure iron. However, they were not satisfied with this achievement and further studied the principles and patterns of iron purification, forming a complete and efficient ultra-pure iron purification technology system, laying a solid foundation for China's sustained development in this field.
Due to its extremely low impurity content, ultra-pure iron possesses excellent physical and chemical properties and plays an irreplaceable role in many critical fields. In high-end equipment manufacturing, ultra-pure iron is a key raw material for producing high-performance special alloys and specialty steels; in national defense and military industry, it is crucial for improving the performance and reliability of weapons and equipment; in aerospace, ultra-pure iron can be used to manufacture core components such as aircraft engines, ensuring the safety and efficient operation of aircraft. Additionally, in semiconductor targets, amorphous alloys, permanent magnet materials and other fields, ultra-pure iron is equally an indispensable basic material.
Iron is chemically active and easily reacts with elements such as oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon, making the purification process of ultra-pure iron extremely complex and stringent. It not only requires precise control of various impurity elements' content but also very few countries worldwide have the capability to develop 5N-grade ultra-pure iron. Previously, although Japan and the United States successfully prepared 5N-grade ultra-pure iron in laboratories, achieving large-scale production still faced many challenges. This successful development by China, with the prospect of industrial production, undoubtedly breaks international technological monopolies and demonstrates China's strong capabilities in the field of materials science.
According to tests by authoritative third-party testing agencies, China's developed 5N-grade ultra-pure iron samples achieved a purity of 99.9992%, with gas impurity elements (carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen) content as low as 4.5ppm, and the total content of other elements at 3.2ppm (covering 73 precisely measurable impurity elements). All performance indicators have reached internationally advanced levels, with some indicators even surpassing them.
In terms of applications, ultra-pure iron has already demonstrated enormous potential. In the semiconductor field, as a key raw material for semiconductor targets, ultra-pure iron provides high-quality material guarantees for chip manufacturing; in aerospace, it assists in manufacturing high-performance special alloys and specialty steels, significantly improving the performance and reliability of aircraft engines; in medical equipment, ultra-pure iron can be used to manufacture high-precision medical devices and implants, providing patients with safer and more effective treatment solutions.
The successful development of 5N-grade ultra-pure iron is not only powerful proof of China's scientific research capabilities but also an important opportunity to promote the upgrading and development of related industries. In the future, China will continue to increase investment in scientific research, continuously optimize ultra-pure iron purification technologies, and accelerate the realization of industrial production and widespread application. At the same time, China will actively carry out international cooperation and exchanges, working with global enterprises to jointly promote the prosperous development of the ultra-pure iron materials industry. With the rapid development of new materials, high-end equipment manufacturing and other industries, the market demand for ultra-pure iron is expected to continue growing, with bright prospects for its industry.
From being a follower to becoming a leader, the breakthrough in China's ultra-pure iron research and development field embodies the countless efforts and wisdom of scientific researchers. This achievement is not only a technological leap but also a vivid reflection of China's comprehensive national strength enhancement, winning China an important position in global technological competition.