Lubricating oil is a barometer of the manufacturing industry. In 2023, China’s lubricant consumption reached 7.2 million tons, ranking second worldwide. However, overall lubrication efficiency remains low, and annual economic losses caused by friction and wear amount to as much as 2.4 trillion yuan—equivalent to 1–2% of GDP. Given the 2060 carbon-neutrality target’s requirement to cut transportation emissions by 12% and the manufacturing sector’s need for high-quality development, demand is growing for high-quality lubricants with extended drain intervals, corrosion and wear resistance, and energy-saving and environmentally friendly properties.
High-end lubricating materials have long depended on imports. Foreign giants dominate key areas such as branding, market share, technical standards, and application certification. During China–U.S. trade frictions, high-end additives experienced price increases and supply restrictions. The State Key Laboratory of Tribology, the Academy of Lithology, the Kunlun Institute of Lubricating Materials, and industry experts have repeatedly called for building an independent, controllable lubrication technology system.
In lubricating oils, graphene exhibits excellent extreme-pressure anti-wear performance, corrosion and rust inhibition, and environmental friendliness. Combining graphene-based materials with conventional lubricant manufacturing technology is expected to open a new path toward import substitution. A 5% improvement in the overall lubrication performance of existing systems could unlock a new lubrication application market worth billions of yuan. Likewise, every 10% increase in the adoption and upgrading of graphene lubrication technology could create a graphene lubricant market with billions of yuan in output value.
We have developed a series of graphene-modified lubricating oil products and completed preliminary market validation. Targeting key sectors such as shipping, trucks, wind power, rail transit, and the low-altitude economy, we will build a full-chain technology system spanning base oils, additives, and composite agents; drive manufacturing upgrading through innovation; break foreign monopolies; and achieve import substitution.
