(Yicai Global) Feb. 14 -- The successful growing of a 445-kilogram synthetic sapphire, the biggest specimen to come out of a Chinese laboratory, holds out the prospect of lower production costs and reduced dependency on imports for semiconductor manufacturers.

Manufacture of large-size crystals establishes Jinghuan Electronic Materials Co., a maker of crystalline materials, as a leading player in the sector, parent company Zhejiang Jingsheng Mechanical & Electrical Co. said in a statement. The Inner Mongolia-based company aims to start mass production in the future.

Synthetic sapphire is used in various industries, including liquid crystal display (LED) manufacture, chip making and consumer electronics. Global sales were probably worth USD4.86 billion at the end of 2016 and are expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 8.4 percent to about USD9.3 billion by 2024, according to the latest market report published by Persistence Market Research.

Preliminary tests show that Jinghuan Electronic's crystal is well formed, has no cracks or grain boundaries, and few bubbles. It could be used to make four-inch crystal bars equivalent to over 4,000 millimeters of LEDs.

The artificial sapphire marks another major technological breakthrough for Jinghuan Electronic after its success in growing a 300kg crystal last June, the company said. Larger crystals enjoy a higher utilization rate, lower trim losses, and lower production costs.

Sapphire substrates are used to manufacture LED chips. They have gained favor as they feature more mature technologies than silicon wafers and silicon carbide wafers and offer improved stability and strength.