Graphite thermal‑dissipation film is a cutting‑edge thermally conductive material characterized by its unique grain orientation, which enables uniform heat conduction along two principal directions. Its layered structure conforms seamlessly to any surface, effectively isolating heat sources from components while enhancing the performance of consumer electronics.
The mainstream thermal‑dissipation films include natural graphite, synthetic graphite, and nano‑carbon types. Among these, synthetic graphite film is produced by carbonizing and graphitizing polyimide (PI) film; it is currently the thinnest available thermal‑dissipation material, with a thickness as low as 0.01 mm, and is widely used in smartphones, computers, and other smart‑device applications.
Smartphones primarily use artificially synthesized graphite films. The number of components used depends on the phone’s performance and requirements, typically ranging from 3 to 6 parts. The components involved include the lens, CPU, OLED display, Wi‑Fi antenna, wireless charging module, and battery, among others.
Currently, the thermal graphite film industry is dominated by both domestic and international players, including Japan’s Panasonic, U.S.-based Graftech, Japan’s Kaneka, as well as Carbon Yuan Technology, Zhongshi Technology, and Feirongda. Japan’s Panasonic and the U.S.-based Graftech entered this field early and have relatively mature technologies, making them pioneers. Domestically, companies such as Carbon Yuan Technology, Zhongshi Technology, and Feirongda boast mature, cutting-edge technologies and have successfully secured a place in the supply chains of major smartphone manufacturers like Samsung and Huawei.
(The following lists only some of the companies)
Panasonic Components Corporation of Japan is a subsidiary of the Panasonic Group. Since 1998, it has been developing and manufacturing PGS graphite films at its Chitose, Hokkaido plant. In 2012, the company introduced a graphite film product with a thickness of only 10 micrometers.
Founded in 1886 and listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1996, Graftech is the world’s largest producer of graphite electrodes and also the leading supplier of graphite carbon products. With approximately 1,300 employees worldwide, the company serves customers in more than 50 countries and manufactures its products in Europe and the Americas.
In the 1990s, Graftech’s AGXTM graphite electrodes, with a diameter of 30 inches (750 mm), were developed for ultra‑high‑power DC arc furnaces and brought to commercial production. In the 2010s, Graftech completed a merger with C/G Electrodes, a U.S.-based graphite electrode manufacturer, and Seadrift Coke, one of the world’s largest producers of needle coke.
Founded in 1949, Kaneka is a major publicly listed Japanese chemical company. Its initial product lineup included caustic soda, soap, cosmetics, edible oils, and electrical wires. Over time, the company diversified into multiple sectors, such as polymers, fermentation, biotechnology, and electronic devices.
As of now, the company employs 11,013 people and operates four manufacturing facilities within Japan, located in Takasago (Hyōgo Prefecture), Shiga, Osaka, and Kashima (Ibaraki Prefecture). Research institutes are based in Takasago (Hyōgo Prefecture) and Osaka. The company’s core business encompasses the manufacture and sale of chemically synthesized products, functional resins, foamed resin products, food items, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, electronic materials, synthetic fibers, and more.
Carbon Yuan Technology was founded in August 2010 and listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange on March 20, 2017. Since its inception, the company has focused on the research, development, manufacturing, and sales of high‑thermal‑conductivity graphite heat‑dissipation materials, maintaining a leading position in the industry.
The company independently researches and manufactures high‑thermal‑conductivity graphite films, which can be used for thermal management in electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Currently, the company’s products are primarily used in smart devices from brands such as Samsung, Huawei, VIVO, and OPPO.
Founded in 1997, Zhongshi Technology has, since its inception, independently developed and manufactured electromagnetic compatibility, shielding, and thermal management products. These solutions address the reliability challenges faced by smart electronic devices operating in complex, harsh environments characterized by severe electromagnetic interference and high‑temperature conditions, while providing customers with environmental assessment services, failure‑mode analysis, tailored mitigation strategies, and comprehensive turnkey solutions.
Zhongshi Technology’s product portfolio spans thermal management materials, synthetic graphite materials, electromagnetic shielding films and IP‑sealed materials, EMI filters, signal filters, as well as EMI/EMC design consulting and remediation services. The company boasts strong product capabilities across industries including smart terminals, telecommunications equipment, new‑energy vehicles, power electronics, mechanical manufacturing, and rail transit, enabling it to consistently deliver competitive, end‑to‑end thermal management and electromagnetic compatibility solutions to its customers.
Founded in 1997 and listed in 2017, Feirongda is a specialized provider of electromagnetic shielding and thermal management solutions. Its main product categories include electromagnetic shielding materials and components; thermal interface materials and components; base station antennas and related devices; charging products; and protective functional components. Among these, the thermal management segment encompasses thermal interface materials, graphite sheets, thermally conductive graphite films, heat dissipation modules, fans, VC vapor chambers, heat pipes, and semi‑solid die‑casting products.
The company boasts a comprehensive portfolio of thermal management materials and has amassed a wealth of core technologies in areas such as graphite-based thermal conductive materials and carbon‑fiber metallization. It offers customers integrated thermal solutions and has established a global network of sales and service centers, cultivating a strong base of premium clients including Huawei, ZTE, and Nokia.
In 2020, Feirongda launched a new R&D project focused on the development of multi‑step processes for graphene‑based products. At present, Feirongda’s graphene technology has entered practical application, with graphite sheets and graphene products already being supplied to customers for thermal management in smartphones, tablets, and laptops.
Stic went public in 2019 and is a leading domestic supplier of functional coating composite materials. The company’s main product categories include functional film materials, electronic-grade adhesive materials, thermal management composites, and film packaging materials, which are primarily used in consumer electronics manufacturing and are now expanding into areas such as automotive electronics, lithium‑battery components, and photovoltaic modules.
After years of development, the company has obtained more than 630 patents in areas such as product design and manufacturing processes, including over 160 invention patents. It boasts mature expertise and cutting-edge technologies in polymer material synthesis, coating formulation optimization, functional structural design, precision coating, and the industrial application of new technologies.
Stic began developing graphene-based thermal management materials in 2017, and as of July 2020, its graphene thermal conductive film project was undergoing small‑batch evaluation.
Founded in 2002 and listed in 2010, Xinlun Technology is a comprehensive service provider integrating new materials R&D, manufacturing, sales, and precision fabrication. The company is committed to delivering end-to-end solutions for new materials and their precision manufacturing.
Xinlun Technology focuses on the new materials and precision manufacturing sectors, with high-end precision coating technology at its core. Its business spans electronic functional materials, optoelectronic display materials, new energy materials, and precision manufacturing, among others. The company has more than twenty wholly owned subsidiaries, and its total assets exceed RMB 7.7 billion.
According to reports, Xinlun Technology began investing in the construction of its Changzhou Electronic Functional Materials Industrial Base at the end of 2013, primarily manufacturing optical tapes, high‑purity protective films, high‑purity adhesive tapes, graphite thermal‑dissipation films, and other products.
On February 4, 2015, Xinlun Technology announced that the first phase of the Changzhou Industrial Park, invested in and constructed by its subsidiary Changzhou Xinlun, had completed its infrastructure development. The first batch of mass‑produced products comprises 10 production lines for “artificially synthesized graphite thermal films.” and two production lines for “high-purity protective films.” Among them, the “artificially synthesized graphite heat spreader” has passed Samsung SDI’s product certification.
In July 2017, the graphene thermal‑dissipation film project, with a total investment of RMB 1 billion, broke ground. The project is being developed by Jiangxi Xinlun Zhixun Technology Co., Ltd., a joint venture between Xinlun Technology Co., Ltd. and Hong Kong’s Maxwell Corporation.
Jiaxing Zhongyi Carbon Technology Co., Ltd. was established in October 2011 and is a high-tech enterprise driven by R&D innovation, specializing in the field of functional materials. The company’s core business encompasses the research, development, production, and sales of electronic materials such as artificial graphite films, PU foam, and thermally conductive silicone gel. Currently, its products are supplied to well-known domestic and international companies, including Samsung, Amazon, Xiaomi, VIVO, Lenovo, CSOT, Tianma, and Huaqin.
Among these, Zhongyi Carbon’s 12-micron high‑thermal‑conductivity graphite film boasts a monthly production capacity of up to 100,000 square meters. Graphene thermal‑management films (as thin as 5 microns), nano‑silica aerogel insulation films, and adhesive‑free copper‑graphite composites are all industry firsts, while ultra‑thin polyurethane foam and superhydrophobic nano‑waterproof materials have already reached internationally advanced levels.
Jinfu Technology was founded in 1998 and went public in 2010. It is a publicly listed company with state‑owned equity control. Its wholly owned subsidiary, Taixing Zhifu Display Technology Co., Ltd. (“Taixing Zhifu”), is one of the earliest domestic enterprises to engage in the research and development of graphene‑based thermal management films, having been established in March 2019.
Taixing Zhifu boasts years of R&D expertise and extensive market experience in graphene-based thermal management, with its products widely deployed across industries such as smart terminals, smart homes, telecommunications, industrial automation, power and energy, and new‑energy vehicles.
Among them, the G‑series and F‑series graphene thermal films from Taixing Zhifu boast excellent flexibility, high strength, controllable thickness, superior heat‑dissipation performance, and outstanding lattice orientation, making them key materials in thermal management solutions.
Source: Shiyin Membrane Chain
