Recently, the media reported that the United States Kansas State University physicists may find a cheap way to produce graphene, through which the production of graphene only three simple steps and the use of three simple materials. Invented this method by Chris Sorenson applied and obtained a patent. This news, caused a high degree of concern and enthusiastic discussion of Chinese researchers.

What are the characteristics of graphene known as “black gold”? China’s graphene R & D and application in what state?

A new method for the preparation of graphene in the presence of environmental risk

Scientists predict that graphene will “completely change the 21st century”, it is possible to set off a sweeping global disruptive new technology and new industrial revolution. To this end, nearly 10 years in the global research in this area of ​​scientists, are trying to continue in the preparation of graphene as soon as possible, hoping to achieve mass production as soon as possible, to seize the commanding heights of the international market.

Graphite is a layered structure, between layers and layers to van der Waals interaction, the force is weak, it is easy to peel off. In 2004, researchers at the University of Manchester in England used tape repeatedly to scratch the graphite sheet until a single layer of graphite was obtained, that is, graphene. “This two – dimensional carbon material has excellent physical and chemical properties and has become a hotspot in the fields of materials science, physics and chemistry,” said Tang Huang, an associate professor of Jiangsu Polytechnic Institute, on July 4, in an interview with Science and Technology Daily.

(Hummers method), in addition to the Hummers method, other methods to prepare the quality of graphene, the method of preparation of graphene, the method of preparation of graphene, High, is an indispensable method of graphene research. But can not be mass production, can only be limited to the laboratory of scientific research.

At present, the industry Hummers method used more, but the method of graphene is not perfect, the structure has many defects, while the method produces a large number of chemical waste, there is a certain environmental risk. It is because of the apparent defects in the preparation of graphene, any country government has no way to support its industrialization. Therefore, in recent years, scientists have tried to find a new method of preparation of graphene.

Marine Engineering Research Institute senior engineer Sun Chunlong July 6, told reporters on the Science and Technology Daily: “similar to Chris Sorenson’s explosive method of preparation of graphene, domestic research has also been, but has not heard of a successful mass production of the news ”

Market demand, although large graphene is difficult to mass production

Because of the structural characteristics of graphene, the graphene has the characteristics of thin and hard, good light transmittance, good thermal conductivity, high electrical conductivity, stable structure and fast electron transport. The market prospect is broad, and in the past 10 years, Concept in the global are widely sought after, the domestic research and application of graphene heat, but also “rising”, continued unabated.

Despite the large market demand, but graphene has always been difficult to mass production. “The key is to solve some important technical problems.” Tang Huang told reporters, at present, graphene in the industry is also a lack of uniform quality standards. And technology and standards have become a huge stumbling block restricting the industrialization of graphene, graphene industrialization is still long way to go.

What is the difference between monolayer and multilayer? Tang Huang explained that graphene can be divided into monolayer graphene, bilayer graphene, low grained graphene and multilayered graphene according to its layer number. Among them, monolayer graphene is strictly graphene, and the lower graphene is composed of 3-10 layers. When the number of layers greater than 10 layers, commonly known as multi-layer graphene. Because of the excellent performance of graphene with the increase in the number of layers decreased significantly, the industry that more than 10 layers do not have the excellent performance of graphene materials.

July 6, for many years engaged in research and development of China’s carbon Valley Technology Group Chief Expert Dai Garon in an interview with Science and Technology Daily, said: “It should be said that in the international graphene preparation technology, China is at the international level of synchronization. Oxidation and reduction method and liquid phase separation method, we Carbon Valley technology to take research and research joint research, the use of high-quality large flake graphite as raw material, through the micro-mechanical stripping method to produce less graphene, the main advantage is the diameter ratio, The process does not pollute and retain the excellent mechanical properties and electrical properties of the two – dimensional material.

With the words of Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Liu Zhongfan, director of the Center for Nanoscience and Technology of Peking University, “Carbon Valley Technology’s unique segmented micro-mechanical stripping process, under the current international graphene industry facing a variety of constraints and bottlenecks, New development path for the large-scale application of graphene industry, played a very good lead role.

Basic research is still less than the application of fire has been hot

Sun Chunlong told reporters recently, on the industrial application of graphene, heavy anti-corrosion coatings, graphene heat film, graphene-based batteries, and achieved some progress. But in fact, these applications on the quality requirements of graphene is not too high, although some products in the field of commercialization, performance and did not reflect the amazing results. Even in the field of new energy, the performance of some graphene conductive agents can not be compared with carbon nanotubes, which itself is related to the number of graphene layers, indicating that graphene technology is not yet mature, graphene can only replace part of the traditional material The

In the words of De Gaulong, graphene preparation technology is less concerned than the previous few years, many companies are focused on the application of graphene, that graphene preparation technology has matured, but the effect of graphene application products Unsatisfactory. On the status of domestic graphene, the entire industry is still in the initial stage of development, did not enter the industrialization.

Reporters learned that, to the present, there is no international monolithic graphene production. Graphite resources in China’s rich reserves, production accounted for about 70% of the world, but some places to graphene and graphite resources confused, as long as the local found graphite resources, it played the concept of graphene, and rely on graphite resources around the planning of graphene industry The garden is homogeneous and homogeneity is very serious.

In recent years, some domestic scientific research units and materials in the field of production enterprises, the concept is still vague, lack of development capacity of the case, put a lot of money, blindly went to graphened away, resulting in graphene Institute, graphene industry Base, graphene new material garden blossom everywhere. Gengrang experts worry that the key technology of graphene has not yet been resolved, the real sense of graphene products have not come out, some research and development and production units, began to lobby the development of success. Now, has begun from the “R & D hot” to “application of heat”, a wide range of applications to promote the meeting, it is overwhelming.

From concept to application to promote the healthy development of industry

At present, the domestic graphene enterprises, the vast majority of small and medium enterprises, with annual sales of only about one million yuan, and the lack of product development capabilities. Therefore, some of the foreign manufacturers with 100 tons of annual production capacity, its output value and profitability is far from expected, most companies are at a loss.

“If the key technology is not resolved and stay at a low level, there will be a large number of enterprises falling in the past five to eight years,” said Zou Chuanquan, deputy general manager of Beijing Mint Technology Development Co., Ltd.

Dai Jialong that in this gypstite boom, some places and enterprises embarked on the other extreme, the graphene as economic development of the “sacrifice”, to the irrational “fanatical” point, serious Affecting the healthy development of graphene industry.

In fact, the use of graphite resources can be developed a lot of products, local governments and enterprises should be local conditions, around the market development. In fact, the use of graphite resources can be developed, Multi-species, high value of the product.

Sun Chunlong told reporters that China has a broad anti-corrosion coating market, including marine heavy anti-corrosion coating demand is increasing. With the development of a number of domestic scientific research units and enterprises to develop research and development of graphene-based heavy anti-corrosion coatings come out, not only for the development of anti-corrosion coatings is of great significance, but also to promote the industrialization of graphene to a breakthrough, will effectively promote the graphene From concept to application development.

On July 6, 2016-2017 China Graphene Development Annual Report released at the 2017 World Graphene Innovation Conference shows that since 2010, China’s graphene enterprises have experienced explosive growth and R & D enterprises accounting for about 43% , Break through the application areas for touch screen and other product parts, but the complete shape of the breakthrough terminal products are rare, the product type is not a system. Report that the current China’s graphene industry is still in the concept of import period, is the initial stage of industrial breakthrough, graphene industry mature at least 5 to 10 years time.

First, the price trend:

According to the business data monitoring shows that domestic acetic anhydride prices rose slightly this week, as of the weekend domestic prices in the domestic 4733.33 yuan / ton, compared with the beginning of the week price of 4833.33 yuan / ton fell 2.07%, up 4.41%.

Second, the market analysis:
Industrial chain: acetic acid upstream raw material acetic acid market prices rose slightly, as of the end of the weekend acetic acid price of 2643.75 yuan / ton, acetic acid prices rose 1.44% this week; methanol prices rose significantly, for the acetic acid and acetic anhydride market to form a certain positive news. The recent downstream manufacturers of acetic anhydride to re-drive, operating rate has increased, the downstream users of acetic anhydride to reduce procurement to just the main, acetic anhydride market take the goods is not good, but the domestic acetic anhydride plant to restart, for the market to bring a certain Adverse effects, acetic anhydride prices fell slightly.

Industry: acetic anhydride market supply and demand contradiction still exists, the recent acetic anhydride manufacturers overhaul device repair, acetic anhydride market into the traditional off-season, demand reduction, but acetic anhydride market, raw materials, methanol and acetic acid prices, acetic anhydride prices fell slightly.

Third, the market outlook forecast:

Business community acetic anhydride analyst Bai Jiaxin that the recent field of acetic anhydride plant maintenance re-drive, supply increased, reduced market demand, coupled with the upstream raw materials, acetic acid and methanol prices, is expected next week, acetic anhydride market prices or will remain stable, the price At 4600-4850 yuan / ton.

Since the first half of 2017, the international crude oil 45-55 US dollars / barrel range of shocks, the downstream unit unit down, the market to inventory more obvious, the polyethylene market in the low demand for high supply under pressure, showing the trend of shock down, the current demand Did not give the market a strong support, the second half of the polyethylene market may have to look forward to?

2017 has been half past, look back on the performance of the crude oil market: desolate tragic. International oil prices overall range of shocks to run, OPEC cut and the US shale oil production is the dominant factor in the market and oil prices. In the first quarter, OPEC cut production rate far more than expected, to provide strong support for oil prices, the international oil prices in a relatively high level of smooth operation. However, the second quarter, the US crude oil production continues to grow, the global oil inventories remain high, Libya and Nigeria, a substantial recovery in production and other factors intensified the market for oil-producing countries to cut production doubts, the international oil price shocks down.

On the trend of ethylene monomer point of view, January-February by the strong regional demand, part of the equipment overhaul, tight supply boost, ethylene prices soared, then into the March, ethylene market demand is slow, especially in Northeast Asia market pressure , The supply pressure is obvious, leading to ethylene prices into the downstream channel.

As can be seen from the figure, the US dollar market turmoil down, in the second half of 2016, especially in the fourth quarter, low inventory, brokers, sets of insurance to take the initiative to make up inventory, resulting in inventory hidden, the pressure behind rather than the real elimination The Obviously after the Spring Festival, the high growth of raw material supply, mainly from the fourth quarter of strong reinforcement, and the actual demand is weak, with the price decline, the market opened a long way to inventory. From the product point of view, the largest decline in its LDPE, from the market point of view, the Southeast Asian market is better than the Northeast Asian market.

2016 domestic prices rose significantly, especially in the second half, futures continue to pull up the spot, both inside and outside the spread after a large number of traders linked to imports of ocean cargo, this part of the incremental impact in the 2017 January to April has been revealed; 2017 domestic prices Fell more than foreign, inside and outside the spread again to upside down, and even produce re-export, export demand, but the actual operation is limited.

Review of foreign equipment maintenance point of view, the first half of 2017, foreign equipment maintenance mainly concentrated in March to May, mostly concentrated in Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea and other near foreign sources, the relative capacity is not, the market influence is small, into the third quarter , Part of the device to resume production, supply pressure increased.

In summary: Looking back at the first half of the market, look forward to the second half of the opportunity, we obviously found that long and short game, comparable, coupled with the external market, the external fund participation is not strong, the market is in shock, then the current support is: , The upstream petrochemical stocks without pressure, brokers and downstream inventory is low, followed by the back of the demand gradually to the good, bad factors suppress is: the supply is about to return, environmental policy + cash flow effects, downstream demand to follow up, the import volume is not To determine, so the second half of the year, polyethylene in the supply of no growth rate, some tight supply situation, the “gold nine silver ten” is expected to continue to increase, the overall probability of polyethylene market, the greater the probability of shock, the market price change ultimately depends on Market inventory accumulation and capital participation.

Scientists worry that they may be forced to stop testing or shut down laboratory equipment because the ongoing blockade of Qatar is threatening their supply of helium. The Gulf countries supply helium to global hospitals and laboratories. However, Saudi Arabia and seven neighboring countries have blocked most of their import and export business in June this year in a political dispute surrounding Qatar’s claim to support terrorism. To this end, Qatar had to shut down two helium production plants.

“The situation is changing every day, so we are paying close attention every day.” Sophia Hayes, a chemist at the University of Washington, who studies nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, said, “I am very worried.” Her research relies on continuous liquid helium supply to cool Superconducting magnets in laboratory spectrum analyzers. Liquid helium is also used in laboratory low temperature studies.

Another scientist who asked for anonymity said that its laboratory was reserving helium available for nuclear magnetic resonance instruments. If necessary, a young colleague who uses helium in large numbers has agreed to reduce its work to help solve the helium supply problem. “This will have a negative impact on his career, and all senior colleagues will do everything possible to avoid that,” the scientists said.

Qatar is the world’s largest helium exporter and second largest helium producer, meeting 25% of global helium demand. Phil Kornbluth, a consultant specializing in the helium industry in Bridgewater, New Jersey, said the blockade would inevitably lead to helium shortages in the coming months.

The country closest to Qatar may be the most affected. However, such as India, Japan, Singapore and other East Asian countries are also at risk. “No one will be affected,” said William Halperin, a researcher at Low Temperature Physics at Northwestern University.

The lab only accounts for about 6% of the helium market. Most of the helium is used in the electronics industry, hospital nuclear magnetic resonance imaging scanners, and airships and balloons. This means that when the supply is limited, suppliers tend to give priority to meet the needs of large customers, rather than scientists.

Many researchers have hoped that helium supply disruptions will not happen again because a large number of new plants have been built in Qatar and helped ensure global helium supply. However, Hayes said that taking into account the political turmoil in the Middle East, she warned the scientific community not to be complacent.

The European Commission said that the anti-dumping duties and countervailing duties imposed on organic coated plates imported from China will soon expire, prompting EU manufacturers to review them before they expire.

In 2013, the EU imposed anti-dumping and countervailing duties on China’s imports of organic coated boards for a period of five years and expired on March 16, 2018. EU manufacturers can apply for review 3 months before the expiration date. In accordance with the procedures of the European Union, the review request must be submitted in writing and must contain sufficient evidence that the removal of double taxation may lead to continued or recurring anti-dumping and countervailing and possible damage, and may continue to face taxation after review.

At present, the anti-dumping duty rate of the EU organic coating plate is 5.9% -26.1% and the countervailing duty rate is 13.7% -44.7%.