Application of High Purity and High Homogeneity Preparation Technology for Steel Used in Aerospace High-Temperature Bearings was awarded the Second Prize of the 2024 Shanghai Technology Invention Award

At the Shanghai Science and Technology Awards Conference held on August 26, 2025, a technology crucial to the safety of China's large aircraft received an award. The project, "Application of High-Purity and High-Uniform Preparation Technology for Aviation High-Temperature Bearing Steel," co-developed by Shanghai Bearing Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd. (SBTI), won second prize in the 2024 Shanghai Technological Invention Award. This achievement marks a key independent breakthrough in my country's core aviation materials field, clearing a significant hurdle for the localization of high-end equipment.

Four years of hard work, just for a "heat-resistant bearing"

Aerospace engines operate in extremely harsh environments. Their internal bearings must operate stably and long-term under high temperatures, high speeds, and intense vibrations, placing extremely high demands on material purity, microstructure uniformity, and fatigue resistance. In the past, this type of high-end bearing steel has long relied on imports. Any supply chain constraints would directly impact the development progress of my country's aviation equipment.

To meet the development requirements of a key national aircraft model, AVIC assigned the Shanghai Bearing Research Institute (SRI) the task of developing high-temperature resistant sliding bearing materials. Faced with technological barriers and stringent requirements, the SRI, combining expertise in materials science, metallurgy, and testing, embarked on a four-year collaborative research effort.

Starting from the source, the project team innovatively developed a new, integrated "high-purity, high-uniformity" production process. By optimizing the vacuum induction + electroslag remelting composite smelting process, combined with precise temperature control and advanced testing methods, they significantly reduced the inclusion content in the steel, improved microstructure consistency, and significantly enhanced the material's reliability in extreme environments.

From the lab to the skies: Technological achievements validated through flight tests

During the R&D process, the team completed a comprehensive engineering verification system encompassing reliability, safety, and airworthiness, undergoing hundreds of material iterations and process optimization. The final product not only successfully passed ground bench testing but also completed multiple flight tests in a real-world flight environment, demonstrating stable performance and fully meeting design requirements. This technology fills a gap in China's high-performance sliding bearings in a specific high-temperature range.

The successful application of this technology demonstrates that my country has mastered independent and controllable core capabilities in key aviation basic materials, providing OEMs with a stable and reliable localized supply guarantee and earning high industry recognition.

Continuous Innovation: Building a New Ecosystem of Collaborative "Smart Manufacturing" in the Yangtze River Delta

As a key research institute under the Shanghai Academy of Sciences, the Shanghai Bearing Research Institute (SRI) has consistently adhered to its mission of "serving the nation through science and technology." This award not only demonstrates its technological strength but also epitomizes the achievements of collaborative innovation and the deep integration of industry, academia, and research in the Yangtze River Delta region. Going forward, SRI will continue to focus on the bottlenecks facing high-end bearings, strengthen core technology research, promote the deep integration of innovation and industrial chains, and help elevate my country's equipment manufacturing industry to a higher level.

At the same time, industrial financial service institutions represented by Ping An Leasing are actively providing financial support such as equipment financing and technology upgrades to "specialized, specialized and innovative" enterprises, helping "hidden champions" like Shanghai Axle Institute to move forward lightly and accelerate their journey of "Made in China".