Graphene anti-corrosion coatings protect cross-sea bridge in China

A graphene anti-corrosion coating technology has been deployed at scale on the cross-sea bridge of Xiangshan Port in east China's Zhejiang Province.

Stretching about 8.28 kilometers across the port, the bridge is part of China's first cross-sea suburban railway and currently holds the record for the world's longest-span ballastless-track cable-stayed railway bridge.

Cross-sea bridges are exposed to high salinity, high humidity and intense ultraviolet radiation. These harsh marine conditions pose significant challenges to the structures' weather resistance and corrosion protection, as well as the service life of their protective materials.

The graphene-modified heavy-duty anti-corrosion coatings applied to the Xiangshan Port cross-sea bridge were developed by the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and its incubated enterprise.

The coatings offer sound barrier performance, strong adhesion and high salt-spray resistance, helping mitigate corrosion of the bridge's main steel structures in the harsh marine atmospheric environment.

By doubling the service life of conventional anti-corrosion coatings, the new coatings can substantially cut maintenance costs and safety risks, according to the developer.

The large-scale application is expected to enhance the safety and durability of cross-sea rail infrastructure.

This coating technology has also been used in the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway in Indonesia and a dual-fuel power station in Cambodia. It also holds promise for wider use in marine engineering, high-end equipment and aerospace, according to the NIMTE.

The bridge is part of the Ningbo-Xiangshan suburban railway, which opens up a rapid commuting corridor between downtown Ningbo and its southern coastal area.