The 7th WCIFIT | Chongqing's Cutting-Edge New Materials Take Center Stage

 

On May 22, the 7th Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade (WCIFIT) opened at the Chongqing International Expo Center. showcasing Chongqing's advanced materials including high-strength lightweight titanium alloys, the world's first 3D microcrystalline glass, and the nation's first Class III medical device-certified additive-manufactured dental veneer slurry - with these technological breakthroughs drawing significant attention.

Titanium alloy smelting and processing remain highly complex technologies currently mastered by only four countries (US, Russia, Japan, and China), while Liangjiang New Area has established a leading domestic titanium alloy industrial cluster anchored by industry leaders Jinshili and Lianghang Metal.

In March 2025, Jinshili launched its 200-million-yuan, 40-mu large-scale titanium alloy material project for aircraft - constructing production lines for titanium bars, forged plates, and free forgings to meet demand for airframe and landing gear components.

At this year's WCIFIT, Jinshili showcased over 10 types of titanium alloy materials and structural components. For instance, the TA15 titanium alloy structural component, with a density of approximately 4.5 g/cm³, combines high strength with lightweight properties. It boasts a tensile strength of 900-1130 MPa, stable performance at 500°C, and excellent corrosion resistance. With superior weldability (weld joint strength reaching 90%-95% of the base material), it is widely applied in critical aircraft components such as fuselages and engines.

Another example is the TC11 titanium alloy bar, which features high strength, lightweight design, corrosion resistance, thermal stability, and excellent machinability. It is suitable for manufacturing high-temperature load-bearing components in aircraft engines, including compressor disks, blades, and casings, meeting the demanding high-temperature and high-load conditions of high thrust-to-weight ratio engines.

In addition to Jinshili, Yunhang Times will exhibit new material products such as titanium powder, tungsten powder, tantalum powder, and molybdenum powder.

▲ Spherical powder materials produced by Yunhang Times. Photograph courtesy of the enterprise.

"We are committed to solving the two major challenges of titanium alloy processing - difficulty in machining and high material costs - making 'high-end titanium' accessible and affordable," said a representative from Yunhang Times. Through the company's plasma spheroidization technology, the comprehensive utilization rate of titanium alloy raw materials has increased to approximately 90%, while costs have been reduced by about 30% compared to the industry average.

It is reported that Yunhang Times processes titanium alloy raw materials into ultra-fine spherical powder, then employs the latest 3D printing technology to fabricate required structural components in a single step. This approach resolves issues such as poor machinability and low yield rates caused by titanium alloy's high hardness.

In addition, Aureavia Hi-tech Glass will showcase two products at this year's WCIFIT. Among them, the world's first 3D-shaped microcrystalline nano cover glass boasts internationally leading comprehensive performance metrics, with drop resistance over 10 times that of conventional glass and light transmittance exceeding 90%, enabling more accurate and true-to-life color reproduction on screens. This product has already been commercially adopted in multiple flagship smartphone series from domestic brands, achieving self-sufficiency in core materials for advanced display technologies.

▲ Gradient nano rolls developed by the Nano Research Institute. (Photograph courtesy of the enterprise.)

▲ Workers at Aureavia Hi-tech Glass' production facility adjusting temperature controls in the annealing kiln extension section of the cold-end workshop. Photograph courtesy of Reporter Zhang Jinhui / Visual Chongqing

Meanwhile, other cutting-edge materials, products, and technologies will also debut at the fair, including automotive-grade new materials from BIT Chongqing Innovation Center (e.g., hot-formed anti-collision beams, hot-formed A-pillars, and integrated laser-welded hot-formed door rings); proton exchange membranes and purely inorganic thermal insulation materials from Chongqing Research Institute if HIT; additively manufactured zirconia slurry independently developed by BMF Precision Tech; titanium alloy 3D-printed components from Chongqing Tike Additive Technology Co., Ltd.

Source: New Chongqing - Chongqing Daily