一. A branch of chemistry. Its main focus is the manufacture of fine chemicals. It has developed rapidly in recent years.
Fine Chemistry
Fine chemicals originally referred to chemical products with small output, high purity, and high prices, such as pharmaceuticals, dyes, and coatings. However, this meaning does not fully reveal the essential nature of fine chemicals. In recent years, various countries have developed new perspectives on the definition of fine chemicals. Some European countries refer to chemical substances produced and sold in small volumes based on different chemical structures as fine chemicals, and to products that are produced in small volumes, processed and formulated to possess specific functions or end-use performance as specialty chemicals. Countries such as China and Japan classify both types of products collectively as fine chemicals.
二. Characteristics of Fine Chemical Industry
The research and application fields of the fine chemical industry are very broad, and its main characteristics are:
(1) Possesses specific functions and practical features.
(2) High degree of technology intensiveness.
(3) Small batch sizes and multiple varieties.
(4) Complex production processes, large equipment investment, and substantial capital requirements.
(5) Strong practicality and marketability, fierce market competition, high sales profits, and high added value.
(6) Short product life cycles, rapid upgrading and replacement, with batch production processes predominantly adopted.