A big country of aerospace with black technology

"Lao Yuan, I would like to thank you for helping us connect this time."

Lao Huang from the Railway Research Institute warmly thanked Vice President Yuan.

Vice President Yuan said with a smile on his face, "Old Huang, I got you a big deal this time."

"That is, that is."

Lao Huang said cheerfully, "I owe you a favor this time."

"How about I treat you to a meal?" Old Huang said with a roll of his eyes.

Vice President Yuan waved his hand and said angrily, "Forget it, your food is really not delicious, it's not as good as the canteen of our factory!"

Lao Huang's favorite thing is to treat people to dinner, but not to restaurants.

Not even eating in their work canteen.

Instead, we ate at his house, and Lao Huang cooked the food himself.

However, Lao Huang's craftsmanship.

It's hard to describe.

There were people who didn't know his cooking skills.

I thought I could have a big meal.

As a result, that day, he walked out holding on to the wall of the family courtyard.

I almost had to call 120 directly.

From then on, Lao Huang became famous for his ability to treat people to dinner.

No one dared to eat his cooking anymore.

"But their requirements are not low. If you can't do it, don't blame them for falling out."

Vice President Yuan gave Lao Huang a wave of vaccinations in advance.

"Don't come to me to vent your anger then."

Lao Huang wasn't angry at all, "Don't worry, I know what's going on."

Lao Huang turned around and returned to the conference room, while Vice President Yuan was preparing to return to Jiangnan Factory.

As a vice president, he has a lot of work every day and cannot waste time here all the time.

"Director Huang, our request is not very complicated."

Geng Bo didn't say too much and went straight to the topic.

He also knew that the two of them must have communicated with each other when they went out just now.

"I wonder if you can process ultra-long components with a diameter of 15 centimeters and a length of 450 meters."

Director Huang did not expect Geng Bo to be so direct.

But looking at the large order in Geng Bo's hand, he didn't care too much.

“We have done a lot of this type of extra-long components before.”

"I still have experience."

"But whether it can be done depends on your processing requirements for the components."

The Railway Research Institute has the most advanced ultra-long seamless rail processing technology in China.

We have a lot of experience in processing ultra-long structural parts.

The seamless rails used in the high-speed railways that have just begun to be constructed are processed by their technology.

It can produce ultra-long seamless rails with a single length of more than 500 meters.

Geng Bo didn't get the answer he wanted at Jiangnan Factory and was already a little frustrated.

I even started thinking about how to develop space welding technology and automatic welding robots.

Director Huang's words undoubtedly gave him hope again.

"We use titanium-nickel alloy, if you want to look into that."

Geng Bo spoke very quickly, fearing that the other party would regret it.

"We will be able to send you a batch in a few days for you to study."

Materials are not an important factor restricting research on space platform keels.

Titanium-nickel alloy is not a special material.

It’s not a big deal to give some to the Railway Research Institute.

Even if someone wants to reverse engineer it, let’s not talk about whether it can be technically achieved.

This titanium-nickel alloy had a patented technology registered several years ago.

Others can't sell it if they go against the grain.

In fact, the uses of titanium-nickel alloy are not too broad.

In particular, the titanium-nickel alloy developed by the Rocket Research Institute was developed for aerospace purposes.

It is difficult to use in other ways.

"As for the processing requirements, I have listed them all, you can take a look."

Geng Bo pushed out an A4 paper from the desktop with several data written on it.

The processing requirements for the keel are recorded above.

"The requirements are not too difficult, but we may need a certain amount of time to complete them."

Director Huang lowered his head and looked for a few minutes before saying.

The requirements on paper are actually similar to the requirements for the seamless rails they make.

It mainly focuses on several key aspects such as straightness and internal damage degree.

In some aspects, the requirements are even lower than the seamless rails they use on high-speed rail.

"Then let's make one first and have a look. If the effect is good, we will place a large-scale order."

Geng Bo made his decision very quickly, taking only a few minutes.

This task was handed over to the Railway Research Institute.

"We will complete the processing of the first member as soon as possible."

Lao Huang assured with a rare seriousness.

At the same time, I thought silently in my heart that this is a huge order.

There is absolutely no chance of any accidents.

Life at the Railway Research Institute has not been easy these past few years.

Their funds are also limited.

If you want to live a better life, I would like to mention everyone’s welfare benefits.

In addition to state funding, we still need to take on some other projects to make some money.

The large order in Geng Bo's hand.

It made Old Huang greedy.

If we could get all the processing of these hundreds of extra-long members.

Not to mention it can make tens of millions of profits.

It can be considered a relatively large windfall.

Geng Bo stood up and said, "In three days, our technicians will come to you with materials."

"You put up the relevant manpower and structures as soon as possible."

Lao Huang naturally agreed. The sooner they start this project, the sooner they can get the money.

The roller space platform project is also a top priority within the institute.

In three days, Geng Bo completed all arrangements for materials and personnel.

Take them to the Railway Research Institute.

The truck painted in military green is loaded with several ingots of titanium-nickel alloy.

Each piece of alloy has a mass of one hundred kilograms.

A hundred pieces of alloy ingots were neatly stacked on a truck.

For such a truck, ten tons of titanium-nickel alloy can be used to create a 450-meter-long keel!

This is why the total mass of the keel of the drum space platform alone reaches one thousand tons.

"This is our titanium-nickel alloy. You can study it tentatively first."

Geng Bo pointed to the truck in the open space of the research institute and said to Lao Huang.

"Our research summary has been sent to you before."

"I wonder what you think?"

At this time, Lao Huang also changed from his previous unobtrusive image, revealing a bit of a scholar.

This man who can be called an evil god in terms of cooking skills has also made outstanding contributions to scientific research.

"I've seen it, but they all said that your alloy has very strange properties."

"The memory aspect alone is strange."

Memory metal is nothing new.

Several decades ago, countries around the world began research and development on memory metals.

Especially in the aerospace field, memory metals have more applications.

Many folding antennas in satellites are made of memory metal.

"Memory metal is not a special technology, there is nothing strange about it." Geng Bo wiped the sweat from his forehead and said casually.

Old Huang touched his chin and said, "When it comes to memory metal, it's not like we haven't studied it before."

"But the deformation temperature of general memory metal is 40 degrees."

"The calibrated deformation temperature of your titanium-nickel alloy is actually 80 degrees!"

"It's twice as tall as it is!"

The main reason for the deformation of memory metal is the change of crystal structure at different temperatures.

For example, the titanium-nickel alloy shipped by Geng Bo and the others has a crystal structure of martensite below 80 degrees, and austenite above 80 degrees.

Martensite and austenite are both organizational names of metal materials. The crystal structures of the two are different. The crystal structure of martensite is a body-centered tetragonal structure, while the crystal structure of austenite is a face-centered cubic structure.

Therefore, when the temperature changes, the alloy will shrink or expand, causing the shape of the metal to change.

"Our application scenario is quite special and requires a relatively high deformation temperature."

Geng Bo did not explain the underlying reasons in detail.

This involves the launch situation of the keel.

The 450-meter-long keel naturally cannot be launched like ordinary satellites and space stations.

Stuff it directly into the cargo bay of the rocket, and then shoot into space.

Because its length even exceeds the height of the rocket itself!

Therefore, we need to think of some special methods to stuff the keel into the cargo hold.

The solution Geng Bo came up with was to use memory metal.

Let the keel form into a ball at high temperature.

In a low temperature state, it is a straight alloy stick.

In this way, the keel, which is hundreds of meters long, can be curled up into an iron lump with a diameter of ten meters.

In this way, it can be stuffed into the rocket's cargo bay.

"You only need to study the processing of components at low temperatures. You don't need to consider its high-temperature memory."

Geng Bo did not give Lao Huang a chance to continue to entangle, and directly told them not to consider this issue.

"Okay, but there's another thing we find strange."

Lao Huang's question is not just about special memory.

"Its stiffness is too high in low-temperature environments. Do you want to use it in Antarctica?"

Lao Huang still doesn’t know the specific origins of Geng Bo and the others.

All I know is that he has a great background and is very rich.

Although I have repeatedly emphasized before this, don’t ask too many questions.

But the curiosity of the scientific researcher still made him want to know such a special thing.

What exactly are they going to use it for?

"You guessed it right, we are going to use it in Antarctica."

If he could use this excuse to dispel the other party's doubts, Geng Bo wouldn't mind telling a little lie.

"Are we going to start developing icebreakers?" Old Huang muttered.

It was only natural for him to have such an association.

First, Vice President Yuan from Jiangnan Shipyard came to him and said that he had attracted a big customer.

That means it should be related to the ship.

Then it has something to do with the low temperature environment.

Then there is nothing else but an icebreaker.

I guess so.

After all, starships are ships too!

The processing equipment of the Railway Research Institute is very complete.

And Geng Bo gave them three days to prepare.

During these three days, they not only carefully studied the material properties description sent to them by Geng Bo.

And it involves a whole set of processing processes.

The electric furnace was the first to start heating, and metal ingots weighing one hundred kilograms each were thrown into it.

It began to melt slowly, turning into a furnace of reddish-yellow molten steel.

It's even more dazzling than volcanic lava.

If you do not wear corresponding eye protection.

It can even directly burn people's eyes.

The temperature of thousands of degrees makes it difficult for people to get close.

Only a thick hinge device can withstand such high temperatures and lift a large crucible filled with molten steel.

"It will take about three or four hours for these to be fully melted."

Lao Huang looked at the workshop filled with heat waves and dazzling red and yellow colors, and said dryly.

People are in such a harsh environment.

I feel like an apple deep in the desert, experiencing sun exposure, and will be completely dried out in the next second.

"Then let's go out and wait."

Geng Bo spoke out the thoughts of others present.

No one wants to stay in this bad situation longer.

Out of the melting shop.

Although it is midsummer, the temperature outside is close to 38 degrees.

But compared with the high temperature in the workshop, it is almost difficult to breathe.

It even makes people feel a cool feeling.

Even though we only stayed in the workshop for less than five minutes, everyone was sweating a lot.

Those who sweat a lot may even have their backs completely soaked.

"Let's go to the lounge and wait."

Lao Huang suggested.

The rest room equipped with the workshop is not only equipped with air-conditioning that is open all day long.

There are also many popsicles in the freezer in the corner.

Allow everyone to quench their thirst and replenish some water during their break.

"Come on, let's all have some popsicles."

Lao Huang took the initiative to take out a large number of popsicles from the freezer.

One was given to everyone present.

"After the melting is completed, how much time will it take for cooling?"

Geng Bo asked while licking the popsicle on his hand.

The smelted alloy is naturally not directly forged.

Instead, it needs to be cooled first.

Only after the cooling is completed can it be forged in the die forging machine.

"For such a large alloy ingot, it will take at least a day and a night to cool down the outer layer."

Lao Huang chewed off a piece of the popsicle and said.

"It will take a long time to cool down completely. It may take three days."

The 10-ton titanium-nickel alloy is almost a rectangular lump one meter long and one meter wide and one meter and four meters high.

Even if the thermal conductivity of metal is relatively good, it will take a long time to completely cool down inside.

With the air conditioner blowing in, several people took a rest and regained their strength.

Three hours later, the titanium-nickel alloy metal ingot was completely smelted.

An entire truckload of one hundred metal ingots was smelted into a single piece of metal.

"Quenching it in a special coolant can slightly enhance its strength."

Lao Huang said while looking at the titanium-nickel alloy ingots in the liquid that looked like kerosene.

Quenching is a very important link in industrial manufacturing.

Almost all important parts must go through this link.

Some even have to undergo more than one quenching.

"According to our past experience, it can be taken out after 24 hours for the next step."

Geng Bo didn't know much about these, and they were basically left to the people at the Railway Research Institute. (End of chapter)