The exterior of the Chongqing Institute of Nanometal. (Photo/Liangjiang Collaborative Innovation Zone)

Chongqing – The Chongqing Institute of Nanometal and Baosteel Roll Science & Technology Co., Ltd. have inaugurated a next-generation surface treatment R&D center at Mingyue Lake in Liangjiang Collaborative Innovation Zone, marking a major step forward in advanced materials and industrial manufacturing.

The center will scale up Gradient Nanostructured Technology (GNT), a patented surface treatment developed by the institute and backed by industry standards. Partnering with Baosteel, a global leader in steel roll manufacturing, will speed GNT’s shift from lab to factory.

Everyday products we use, such as our phone case, refrigerator door, or even parts of a train, start their life as thick metal sheets flattened by an essential industrial tool called a steel roller. You can think of it like a giant, super-strong rolling pin. When these rollers wear down or crack, production slows, quality drops, and costs go up.

That’s where GNT comes in. Imagine giving that rolling pin a microscopic armor: a tough outer layer that resists wear, corrosion, and cracking, backed by a more flexible interior. It extends the roller’s life, keeps production lines running smoothly, and cuts the need for toxic chromium coatings, making products not only more reliable and longer-lasting but also greener.

The excitement around GNT isn’t theoretical. Trials across aluminum, copper, stainless steel, and even precious-metal rolling operations have shown the GNT-enhanced rollers outperform conventional alternatives by significant margins in terms of fatigue resistance and surface integrity. Backed by a robust infrastructure, ranging from trial production to compliance standards, this technology is primed for large-scale industrial deployment, thanks in no small part to Baosteel’s production expertise and influence in industry standard-setting.

To ensure a smooth transition from lab to manufacturing floor, the R&D center is establishing a full-cycle quality assurance loop: research and development will be systematically followed by pilot testing, industrial trials, feedback-led optimization, and eventual standardization. This process will span everything from how materials are stored to how rolls are installed and maintained, aiming for consistent real-world performance.

Behind the scenes, the project also benefits from Chongqing’s “allocation-plus-investment” financing model, which strategically blends operational funds with direct investments to support the industrial rollout of novel technologies. This model is part of a broader ecosystem designed to bridge the gap between innovation and real-world application, offering GNT both financial support and a pilot platform for long-term success.