In August,2023, the first national 1,000-ton perfluoroisobutyronitrile industrialized production line was officially put into trial production in Sanming Hexafluo Chemicals Co., Ltd.("Sanming Hexafluo" or "the Company").

At present, sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) is mainly used as the dielectric medium for high voltage power generation and distribution equipment. The greenhouse effect of a single molecule of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) is 23,000 times that of carbon dioxide, and it is one of the greenhouse gases that the Kyoto Protocol clearly proposes to put into strict regulation. Perfluoroisobutyronitrile is a new generation of environmental-friendly power insulting gas with low global warming potential (GWP) value, a complete replacement of the sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) could reduce more than 100 million tons of equivalent carbon emission each year.

In the exhibition hall of Sanming Hexafluo, there is a data center “having a bath” — electronic components are immersed in fluorinated liquid for cooling to achieve efficient and safe operation. "The immersion coolant for the new-generation big data center is non-conductive and non-flammable, which can help in increasing the energy efficiency by 70%." Wu Chengying, Chief Engineer of the Company, introduced.

As the most promising substitute for sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) under the goals of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, perfluoroisobutyronitrile has become another staple product of the Company. "Compared with sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), perfluoroisobutyronitrile, the new-generation insulating gas, can reduce the impact greenhouse gases by at least more than 98%, providing an excellent solution for gas-insulated switchgear and other high-voltage power transmission and transformation systems," Wu said. 

"Fluorine-containing projects must be treated seriously", research and development of these new material products not only require the time and cost, but also challenge professionalism and determination of the team.

We should spare great efforts to aim at new goals and achieve new breakthroughs. Over the past three years of research and development, the R&D personnel of Sanming Hexafluo spared constant efforts to analyze, summarize and improve the scheme, made full use of advantages of the industry chain, and ultimately achieved breakthroughs in industrialized technology.

"During the research and development of perfluoroisobutyronitrile, the experimental yield at the very beginning was less than 5%. We were confused about the project scheme, but we have never thought of giving up." Wu Chengying told reporters that after repeated practice and summary, and by further exploring chemical principles, upgrading catalysts, and optimizing equipment structure, they ultimately had the yield approached to the theoretical value.

Technological innovation is an important driving force for the development of the Company. "We keep pace with the trend of global market demand, and scale up the investment in scientific research. The R&D investment reached RMB84.26 million in 2022." Wu Chengying said that the Company developed and rolled out 3-5 new products every year, and boasted more than 12 categories of products at present, among which hexafluoroisopropanol and hexafluoroisopropyl methyl ether had a relatively high market share both at domestic and overseas markets. In the first half of 2023, the output value of all kinds of products of the Company exceeded RMB1.2 billion, jumping by 20% YoY.