Free Web NovelChapter 820: Chapter 435 Shen Binghe: You’re Still Lacking That Little Bit!_2
The purpose of this modification was clearly to melt the metal rhenium, but whether it had any effect on the original manufacturing process was unknown.
The design scheme called for the addition of rhenium at ’three different places’, with Li Rongmao joking that Shen Binghe’s approach was to ’cast a wide net’, which exactly captured Shen Binghe’s thoughts. Knowing that his own skill level was insufficient, he decided to add rhenium at several positions, "Maybe it would be effective? By casting a wide net, there’s bound to be a catch..."
The experimental process was still very complex.
Each experiment was equivalent to manufacturing a K03A from start to finish, and also involved adjusting the intermediate steps according to the experimental plan, which certainly required a significant amount of time. Fortunately, Factory 307 provided substantial support. The earlier parts of the manufacturing process could be completed by Factory 307, which directly supplied the materials used in the process and even dispatched a dedicated team to assist.
Zhao Yi had set aside two days for the experiments, but that was just for the experiments being conducted in the capital; they still had to wait for Factory 307 to send the materials.
After the meeting concluded, it was a waiting game.
Factory 307 was very efficient, perhaps also because they valued Zhao Yi’s research and development team. Just two days later, they delivered the intermediate materials needed for the experiments, and the delivery was managed by He Guilin’s development team.
He Guilin himself came along, bringing two technicians with him.
First, they delivered a portion of the materials to the Metal Materials Laboratory. Then, as planned, they went directly to the factory attached to the Composite Metal Materials Laboratory.
In the operating room of the Metal Materials Laboratory, there was a large pile of materials, goods, and some auxiliary equipment.
Zhao Yi went over to check the items, and then declared indifferently, "Let’s begin."
The experiment officially started.
The beginning was carried out in the Metal Materials Laboratory, where the materials underwent simple processing, high-temperature water treatment, as well as the addition of a few elements. This marked the end of their part as they did not need to use metallic rhenium. Then, the experiment-related materials were sent directly to the steel plant associated with the Composite Metal Materials Laboratory.
Steel plant.
Many people got busy.
Wang Zhifang directed the workers to adjust the equipment while Zhang Hongtao stood with He Guilin, discussing issues related to the experiment. Zhang Hongtao explained several changes, and He Guilin listened with some confusion, "Who designed the scheme?"
"Professor Shen Binghe," Zhang Hongtao responded with a forceful curl of his lip, adding, "But it was confirmed by Academician Zhao."
"Oh~~"
Just as He Guilin was about to share his views on the design, he abruptly stopped and changed his tune to, "If Academician Zhao says it’s worth trying, then it’s worth a shot."
"..."
Zhang Hongtao had hoped He Guilin would join in the ’critique’ but was disheartened with such a response.
Although Zhang Hongtao had great faith in Zhao Yi’s judgment, he still wasn’t keen on Shen Binghe’s design. How could piling up a bunch of minor issues in the design improve the performance of the final product?
This experiment was just a waste!
"Trial and error..."
"It doesn’t matter!"
Zhang Hongtao comforted himself with these thoughts, but still felt discouraged, mainly because Shen Binghe’s design had too many issues. Zhao Yi’s research method was different from their experiences and thoughts, exceeding the bounds of normal understanding.
...
Soon.
The materials arrived.
Shen Binghe was aware that his design was not well-received, and even Li Rongmao expressed his opinion with silence, but since it had been approved by Zhao Yi, he was slightly more confident. "Academician Zhao said it was fine, that it would help with the research, and even said that being the first to proceed was fine even if no results came from it."
Although he felt this way, anyone’s design being put to the test would hope for results.
Shen Binghe still hoped that the manufactured product would show improved performance. He was busy in the factory, hoping that the manufacturing process would go off without a hitch.
Others were relatively idle.
Most of the work was being done by the factory workers; He Guilin’s team was merely there to supervise, and Wang Zhifang initially gave orders but then stood by watching.
Zhang Hongtao and Li Rongmao stood to one side, sometimes they simply stayed in the office, as if just waiting for the results.
Zhao Yi, however, was very serious. He observed the manufacturing process from beginning to end, scrutinizing each step attentively, sometimes even from a close distance, worrying the people nearby about the high-temperature equipment harming him.
Two days later.
The product was almost complete, with just the last step remaining—cold rolling, where the alloy in liquid state was rapidly cooled and then rolled into shape.
At this point, Zhao Yi suddenly spoke up. Frowning at the alloy solution, he moved closer and directed, "Divide it into two parts, one for cold rolling and the other for slow cooling." Slow cooling meant allowing the alloy to cool gradually, even more slowly than natural cooling, in a continual heating process with decreasing temperatures.
The research team members were all there.
Li Rongmao asked, "Slow cooling? What’s the use?"
"Theoretically..." Wang Zhifang began to explain.
Zhao Yi interrupted him, "Just try it, maybe it will work?" He didn’t want to hear any ’theory’.
Wang Zhifang was stifled for a moment and could only nod dejectedly, "That’s true." In fact, what he had wanted to say was ’slow cooling is ineffective for K03A,’ but since Zhao Yi said ’just trying,’ and it was only an extra step that the factory was equipped to do, he didn’t need to say anything more.
In fact, Zhao Yi’s request to divide the material into two parts was meant to prove that slow cooling was very meaningful. Contrary to Wang Zhifang’s ’theory’ that slow cooling had no effect on the production of K03A, they weren’t making the original K03A but adding the rare metal element rhenium. Slow cooling was very meaningful for embedding rhenium into K03A and making use of its high melting point.
Soon.
The products made by the two cooling methods were out.
He Guilin immediately wanted to test the products, but was stopped by Li Rongmao, "Academician Zhao said to conduct the tests in the metal materials lab."
"I know that," He Guilin said, "But it’s just the first experiment; I guess it didn’t produce results, right?"
He meant that the likelihood of an improvement in the alloy’s properties was not high.
"We still have to take it to our lab," insisted Li Rongmao, then he looked at Zhao Yi.
Zhao Yi said, "Anyways, the lab won’t be free for another two days, so let’s just do the test at our place."
"Okay!"
He Guilin had no choice but to suppress his desire to test and, along with the others, took a car to Yanhua University. frёewebnoѵēl.com
Metal Materials Laboratory.
He Guilin, Zhang Hongtao, and Li Rongmao personally conducted tests on the alloy products. Shen Binghe, the main designer, couldn’t even squeeze in, mainly because it was a matter of operating experience. They were all frontline researchers, accustomed to this kind of work, and well-practiced.
Shen Binghe had much less experience and had only had practical operation experience during his Ph.D. studies.
Soon.
The lab became lively.
"I’ve already heated it to 1500 degrees! Why hasn’t it melted!" exclaimed Zhang Hongtao, surprised, "Could the melting point have risen above 1500 degrees?"
"Impossible, right?"
"Really?"
"Is there a mistake?"
He Guilin hurried over.
Zhang Hongtao was controlling the high stability flame which was somewhat dangerous, so He Guilin could only stand at a distance. When he noticed signs of melting in the alloy, he couldn’t help but ask, "How much?"
"1520 degrees!"
"1520? Are you kidding? Which one?"
Zhang Hongtao said, "The one that was slow-cooled."
On the other side.
Li Rongmao was testing the ’cold-rolled’ product and quickly called out, "It melted, 1460 degrees!"
"Your piece is also at 1460 degrees?"
He Guilin and Zhang Hongtao cried out in surprise together, and everyone else rushed over.
The melting point test ended quickly.
Zhang Hongtao and Li Rongmao announced the results together, "The cold-rolled one, 1460 degrees; the slow-cooled one, 1520 degrees!"
Everyone else was stunned.
Shen Binghe shouted subconsciously, "For real? 1460? 1520? That means my design improved K03A’s performance by over a hundred degrees? You’re not fooling me, right?"
Zhang Hongtao and Li Rongmao fell silent.
After a while.
Shen Binghe finally believed the results and swung his fist vigorously, laughing loudly, "I told you all, you should have believed in my design, how about it? Still talking about proof, a hundred degrees! Plus what Academician Zhao said about slow cooling, two hundred degrees?"
"Hahaha—"
"Let’s hurry up and try your proposals, see how they stack up against mine. Anyway, I feel like, you know, yours are still lacking a little bit..."
"..."
