Xiangshan Port Bridge Deploys Graphene Anti-Corrosion Technology
Massive commercial application of an innovative graphene-based anti-corrosion coating has been carried out on the Xiangshan Port cross-sea bridge located in Zhejiang Province, east China. Spanning roughly 8.28 kilometers across the port, this architectural feature functions as part of the nation’s inaugural cross-sea suburban railway while presently claiming the title of the world’s longest-span ballastless-track cable-stayed railway bridge.
Marine Environment Challenges and Coating Performance
Cross-sea bridges face severe environmental hurdles, including high salinity, high humidity, and intense ultraviolet radiation. These harsh marine conditions threaten the weather resistance and corrosion protection of the structures, as well as the overall service life of standard protective materials. To combat this, researchers at the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, alongside an incubated enterprise, developed heavy-duty graphene-modified anti-corrosion coatings for the Xiangshan Port project. The formulations provide sound barrier performance, strong adhesion, and high salt-spray resistance to mitigate steel corrosion in marine atmospheres.
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, it is a bridge on China's first cross-sea suburban railway and currently the… pic.twitter.com/vpxfbKbvbW
Infrastructure Impact and Global Deployment
By doubling the service life of conventional anti-corrosion coatings, the new technology substantially cuts maintenance costs and safety risks, according to the developer. The large-scale rollout is designed to enhance the safety and durability of cross-sea rail infrastructure. Beyond Zhejiang Province, the same coating technology has been utilized in the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway in Indonesia and a dual-fuel power station in Cambodia. NIMTE indicates that the material holds significant promise for broader applications in marine engineering, high-end equipment, and aerospace sectors.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Graphene Coating Project
What specific railway line utilizes the Xiangshan Port bridge?
The bridge serves as a key component of the Ningbo-Xiangshan suburban railway, which establishes a rapid commuting corridor connecting downtown Ningbo to its southern coastal area.
Who developed the graphene anti-corrosion technology used on the bridge?
These advanced protective formulations originated from a joint effort between a spin-off enterprise and the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE).
What international projects have also used this coating technology?
The coating technology has been deployed on the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway in Indonesia and a dual-fuel power station in Cambodia.
Worth a look