Rebirth of science and technology academic master

Chapter 201 Rare Earth Operation

The world today is very interesting.

After the United States became the world's only superpower, it became the world's undisputed world hegemon. Various advanced technologies have become the target of people's imitation, and China is the best imitator among them. Even when the United States is still stuck in PPT, China realized it, which made the United States dumbfounded. It felt like China would be scratched bald when crossing the river by touching the eagle sauce.

Russia relies on the legacy of the Soviet Union, and its military technology is still at an advanced level. However, Russia does not have enough financial resources to invest. It is an indisputable fact that Russia will continue to fall behind as time goes by.

Huaxia, on the other hand, learned from the Soviet Union and the United States and learned from both sides, but it also formed its own technical characteristics and served as the best of both worlds. It’s just that the foundation is relatively weak and there are many shortcomings, and it will take time to accumulate.

For example, China's fighter planes can see the shadow of the Soviet Union, but the avionics system also has the shadow of the United States.

"Academician Qin, don't worry about this. Our project team prepared two aircraft models when we first started researching. As long as there is no problem with the aero-engine, we will solve the fuselage issue!" Chief Yang said angrily.

Chinese fighter jets started by imitating Soviet fighter jets, and then gradually formed their own style. During the development process of the J-10, a third-generation aircraft, they completely formed their own technical style, and they also figured out the way to do it. Therefore, the J-20 was born. Born!

As a master of aircraft design, how could he not study the F22? The aircraft engine and avionics system are invisible, but the fuselage is visible.

"Taihang aerospace engines and Kunlun aerospace engines use new materials and continue to improve!" At the end of the meeting, the leaders asked the two aerospace engine development units to apply new technologies and also asked relevant units to cooperate with Qin Yuanqing.

At the end of the meeting, experts gathered around Qin Yuanqing, wanting to know more about the inside story. However, the satellite launched by the Aero Engine Research Institute was too big, and they still can't accept it.

Qin Yuanqing looked at the elderly people in their 70s and 80s. They were no different from other middle-aged people in their 40s and 50s. They were full of enthusiasm and couldn't stand it. As for what, wasn't it just a breakthrough in materials? If you knew it one day earlier, you would know it later. Same.

Of course, Qin Yuanqing only mentioned the relevant technical indicators, but did not say a word about the specifics. Just kidding, brothers are still settling accounts. The technology must be in their own hands, otherwise how will they make money.

The production of samples and experiments in the 404 steel plant were all paid for by the Aero Engine Research Institute, and there was not even a dime of national funding.

Now the Aero Engine Research Institute has signed cooperation agreements with the 404 Steel Factory and the 706 Composite Materials Factory to license the technology respectively, and each company will produce materials.

Qin Yuanqing just said that the technology has been authorized, and if he wants to purchase materials, he can order from 404 Steel Factory and 706 Composite Materials Factory.

However, after the meeting, Qin Yuanqing was led to an office by a secretary of the leader. There was also Chief Engineer Yang in the office. Chief Yang was 50 years old this year and was in the prime of life. He is now the deputy chief engineer of China Aviation Industry Corporation. With the successful test flight of the J-20, Chief Engineer Yang, as the chief designer of the J-20, has become a well-known scientist.

"Academician Qin, this is Yang Wei, the chief designer of the J-20!" the leader introduced.

Qin Yuanqing shook hands with Yang Wei. This man was a representative figure of craftsmen in a great country and had been engaged in the design of fighter jets.

"Academician Qin, I have asked you to come here this time to confirm something with you. Is there any problem with the aircraft engine?" the leader asked.

"Theoretically speaking, there is no problem with technology, but it involves a lot of processing technology. If the processing technology can meet the standards, it also involves whether the aero-engine manufacturing is qualified." Qin Yuanqing did not give a definite answer.

Technology is technology, but whether it can be manufactured involves machine tool processing.

"Academician Qin, I wonder if you can give me a copy of the engine design drawing. During this time, I will lead the team to optimize the aircraft design according to the design drawing." Yang Wei said.

Qin Yuanqing nodded, of course there is no problem.

Aviation engines only make sense if they are placed on airplanes, otherwise they are meaningless at all.

Yang Wei made this request in front of the leadership, so there was no need to worry about leaks. Moreover, if the design was just a design without relevant detailed drawings, the value would be greatly reduced.

Qin Yuanqing invited Yang Wei to go to the research institute with him, and then handed Yang Wei a CD with the drawings. As for how long it took for Yang Wei's team to design the aircraft, that was not Qin Yuanqing's concern.

Just when Qin Yuanqing returned to campus, the focus of work also shifted to the manufacturing of aero-engine prototypes. The aero-engines were assembled at Aero Engine Power.

It is expected that an aerospace engine will take a month to produce. It is precisely because of this that if aerospace engines are not mass-produced, they will be sky-highly expensive.

For mass production, when the technology is mature and there is a dedicated production line, the cost will be greatly reduced.

Less than a week after the meeting, big news suddenly broke out, that is, when the environmental protection department was touring the country, it ordered rare earth companies with mining qualifications to suspend production and make rectifications in response to phenomena such as unlicensed mining, environmental pollution, and failure to conserve soil and water. , unlicensed mining was punished, and small rare earth mining companies were banned and fined for a while. Rare earth companies with mining qualifications also faced huge fines and were unable to maintain production and filed for bankruptcy liquidation.

And this immediately fed back to the market. The price of rare earths in the market rose in response, and the price went straight red. The price of rare earths changed every day, but there was still a price but no market.

Several companies with Chinese prefixes took advantage of the situation to expand, taking over bankrupt rare earth mining companies, and eventually formed three major rare earth mining and smelting giants, effectively controlling rare earths. At this time, the price of a ton of rare earths has soared to 200,000/ton. , some have even increased to 5 million/ton, and the price is ten times higher than before.

Moreover, the bargaining power is in one's own hands, rather than being controlled by overseas companies as in the past, and the initiative lies with oneself. And many overseas companies have to hold their noses and admit it, because the uses of rare earths are too wide, and high-precision products are inseparable from rare elements. Whether it is some chip electronic components or special alloys, rare elements must be used. Without The performance of rare elements drops significantly.

So this has formed that although the mining volume of Huaxia Rare Earth has decreased, its profits have increased significantly, and the supply is still in short supply, and its status has greatly increased.

The environmental protection department is taking action against rare earths, and other mining industries are also in turmoil. They are afraid that the environmental protection department will investigate, and they unconsciously start to implement soil and water conservation and environmental protection measures to avoid following in the footsteps of the rare earth industry.

To be honest, the environmental problems caused by the rough development in the past are very serious. The state's hand is gradually tightening, and there is not much time left for these enterprises.

Of course, Qin Yuanqing is also happy to see these measures. After all, rare earth resources have very high value. Selling rare earths directly is not as good as deep processing to form high-performance materials. Whether they are alloy materials or other composite materials, they are truly of high value. This It is much better than selling rare earths by the ton.

For example, the price of high-temperature-resistant materials is simply ridiculously high, and there is still a price but no market. If China wants to import some special steel, it has to pay a huge price. For example, aircraft carrier steel is simply outrageously expensive. It is ordinary steel. Hundreds or thousands of times the price. Rare elements are added to form alloys, which greatly improves the performance of the alloys.

With breakthroughs in the field of materials, China will need to use rare elements on a large scale in engines, alloy materials, etc. Even if they don't use them, they can still produce materials. The price of selling materials can be ten times or a hundred times higher than selling rare earths directly. .

"That's fine. It would be a pity if something as good as rare earths is sold at a bargain price! It would also be an insult to high-value products like rare earths!" Qin Yuanqing thought to himself as he watched the news reports.

Modern electronic products and alloy materials are inseparable from rare earths, just like cars are inseparable from oil. New energy may be emerging, but it will take time. The same is true for rare earths. It is precisely because of rare earths that the performance of electronic products can advance by leaps and bounds. Otherwise, development would not be possible at all. The same is true for alloy materials. The engine is obviously still the same. The reason why the performance can be greatly improved is because the addition of rare elements greatly improves the high temperature resistance and wear resistance.

Light rare earths are found in many places around the world, but the most important heavy rare earths are only found in China.