As the core foundational area of the global scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, new materials also serve as a strategic leading industry supporting the construction of China's modern industrial system and fostering new productivity. The development level of new materials directly affects the advancement of industrial foundations and the modernization of industrial chains, holding irreplaceable strategic value for achieving high-level independent scientific and technological strength and the construction of manufacturing and quality powerhouses. Developing new non-ferrous metal materials is an essential part of the new material industry development. In the recently released "15th Five-Year Plan for the Development of New Materials Industry", several new non-ferrous metal materials are mentioned.
Firstly, there will be a focus on developing advanced basic materials. Advanced basic materials are the "ballast" of the new material industry, focusing on performance upgrades and green transformations of traditional basic materials. The emphasis will be on breakthroughs in high-value-added, high-performance products to meet the upgrade needs of high-end manufacturing and livelihood areas. Developing advanced non-ferrous metal materials is at the heart of this effort.
During the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, efforts will concentrate on lightweighting and high functionality requirements, achieving breakthroughs in high-strength and high-toughness aluminum alloys (structural components in aerospace and core materials for lightweight automotive bodies), high-performance magnesium alloys (lightweight materials for 3C products and medical devices), titanium alloys (wide plates for aircraft skins and precision profiles for high-end equipment), and other advanced basic materials. Additionally, copper-based electronic materials (such as high-frequency high-speed copper-clad laminates) and rare metal functional materials (like neodymium-iron-boron permanent magnet materials and tungsten-molybdenum alloys) will support the development of the electronics information and new energy sectors.
Secondly, key strategic materials will see breakthroughs. Key strategic materials that break through bottlenecks are crucial for ensuring national major projects and the safety of strategic emerging industries. Focuses include high-end equipment, next-generation information technology, new energy, biomedicine, and other key areas, overcoming core materials with high external dependence and strong technical barriers.
During the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, key non-ferrous metal strategic materials mainly involve corrosion-resistant alloys (e.g., Hastelloy used in corrosive parts in chemical and nuclear power fields), high-strength lightweight alloys (aluminum-lithium alloy for weight-reducing aviation structural components, titanium-aluminum series alloys for low-pressure turbine blades of engines), metal matrix/ceramic matrix composites (CMCs for hot-section components of aviation engines, enhancing high-temperature resistance), and materials for extreme environment services (cryogenic materials for liquefied natural gas equipment, radiation-resistant materials for nuclear power fields). For next-generation information technology materials, focuses will be on semiconductor and display industry localization needs, prioritizing integrated circuit materials, new display materials, and new energy materials.
Thirdly, frontier new materials will be developed. As the core driving future industry development, frontier new materials focus on disruptive technology directions like low-dimensional, quantum, and bio-based technologies, laying out original and forward-looking material fields to cultivate new growth poles for the industry.
In the aerospace sector, due to extreme working conditions and high-performance demands, stringent material standards are required. New superalloys are needed for aero-engines: requiring a creep strength of ≥120MPa at 1100°C, and improved oxidation resistance by 30% compared to traditional materials, enhancing thermal efficiency and operational reliability; high-performance carbon fiber composites are needed for aircraft structures, with fiber strengths reaching 7GPa and moduli reaching 350GPa, achieving weight reduction while improving payload and range.
For the new energy vehicle industry upgrade, breakthroughs in new materials are dependent. High-nickel ternary cathode materials for power batteries require nickel content ≥90%, with energy densities reaching 300Wh/kg to meet high-range demands; body lightweighting requires developing aluminum alloy sheets with yield strengths ≥350MPa and excellent stamping performance for use in body and component manufacturing, reducing weight, increasing energy efficiency, and aiding in energy conservation.
In the transportation sector, carbon fiber composite materials and aluminum alloy composites will be applied to rail transit vehicle bodies and bogies, reducing vehicle weight by 15%~20%, increasing train speed and energy efficiency, while providing good fireproofing and sound insulation properties, optimizing passenger experience. High-performance anti-corrosion coatings and metal coating materials will be developed for ship hulls, decks, and equipment, enhancing corrosion resistance in marine environments, extending ship life, and reducing maintenance costs by over 30%.
In the smart equipment field, high-strength aluminum alloys, carbon fiber composites, and engineering plastics will be used in robot joints and transmission components, improving robot movement performance and load capacity, reducing weight, enhancing flexibility, and work efficiency.
