The manganese steel used in later generations should actually be called high manganese steel, which is manganese steel with a manganese content of more than 13%. High manganese steel is a high-strength steel, but low manganese steel with a manganese content of about 3% is too fragile.
Like glass, it is vulnerable.
There is a widely circulated story about the invention of high manganese steel. According to legend, in a steel factory, workers accidentally mixed some manganese ore during steel-making. As a result, the steel produced was extremely fragile. The boss was furious.
Next, he ordered workers to put all the picked manganese ore into the steel-making furnace, and a miracle happened.
After hearing what Hao Qing said, Su Hao vaguely remembered that he had read such a story. It didn't matter whether he read it in a primary school student study newspaper or somewhere else.
Hao Qing scratched his scalp and said: "This is strange. Steel made from half-formed ore cannot be made, but it can be made by adding half-formed ore. What is the reason for this?"
Su Hao was not 100% sure, so he just smiled and said: "I also read what was written in the book, and I don't know whether it is true or not. Brother Hao, let's give it a try. If it doesn't work, we will think of other ways."
Hao Qing knew that Su Hao was cautious and didn't like to talk too much. Generally speaking, if Su Hao said he would give it a try, he would be more confident. Thinking of this, Hao Qing called Xiao Wuzi and asked him to get the coke.
, the fire was raised again to make steel. The scrap steel was thrown into the crucible, and then a few pieces of manganese ore were added. According to the experience taught by Hao Yizong, some charcoal powder was also put into the crucible.
Su Hao didn't know if the carburizing method used by ancient Chinese craftsmen in steelmaking was correct or not. Anyway, it was just an experiment. If it failed, learn lessons and start again.
Xiao Wuzi pulled up the bellows, and the fire burned brightly, and the ore, scrap steel, etc. in the crucible gradually melted. Hao Qing wore a pair of goggles made of dark glass, stared at the molten steel in the crucible, and used long words from time to time.
Use a spoon to skim off some of the slag floating on the surface.
This crucible was specially made by Hao Qing based on Su Hao's suggestion. There are two protruding shafts on both sides of the pot body, which are supported on brackets. After the molten steel is smelted, just push a connecting rod to make the crucible
Rotate along the axis and pour out the molten steel in the crucible.
The steel-making process was very arduous. Hao Qing and Xiao Wuzi were sweating profusely. Although Su Hao wanted to appear friendly, he finally couldn't bear the heat and went to Hao Yizong's room to chat with the old man. Hao Yizong generally did not personally participate in these craftsmanship.
When doing things, only come out and check the technology at critical moments.
When Su Hao arrived at Hao Yizong's room, Hao Yizong was studying a piece of plate glass. Seeing Su Hao enter the room, he smiled and offered his seat to Su Hao. Then he asked a few more questions about Su Hao's military training, and then brought the topic back to
Let's talk about the workshop.
"My dear nephew, we have been refining more and more colored glaze. Do you have any plans?" Hao Yizong asked.
Su Hao said: "Uncle Hao, my nephew's original idea was to sell this glass to ordinary people. Look at the flat glass you have, if it is used to set it on a window, it can block the wind and transmit light. It is better than
Pasting paper on the windows is much stronger. In the past, people didn’t use colored glass for windows because the glass was too expensive. The glass sheets we make now are so cheap that ordinary people can afford them.”
Hao Yizong nodded and said, "I've been thinking about this too these days. The price of this glass is so cheap that it can be used for anything. In addition to being mounted on windows, it can also be used to make bottles, cups, etc. We
If you build a workshop specifically for making glassware, you can easily earn ten thousand taels of silver a year."
Su Hao said: "Isn't it? But there is an obstacle now, which is the batch of telescopes ordered by Jiangxi Dusi. Hao Tong did not make it clear to Zhang Dusi. Zhang Dusi ordered the telescope at a price of 100 taels. If we sell it
The glassware is too cheap, and Zhang Dusi might be annoyed that we deceived him."
Hao Yizong had the same idea as Su Hao. As an old craftsman, he was very clear about the process. He said: "I am also thinking about this matter. In fact, the difficulty in building this telescope lies in refining the penetration.
Light colored glaze. If Zhang Dusi knew that it was very convenient to refine this light-transmitting colored glaze, I am afraid he would not have given us such a high price. Not only that, I am afraid he will also pursue us for the crime of deception. You and the mistress will both
It’s hard to take the blame.”
The third son he was talking about was Hao Tong, because Hao Tong was the third youngest among his generation.
"So, let's not be in a hurry to sell these colored glasses now." Su Hao said, "We have to wait until we have almost earned enough money for the telescope."
Hao Yizong nodded to express his agreement with Su Hao's opinion. Then he pointed to the piece of glass in his hand and said, "Xiannephew, come and see, the light of this glass can be used to identify people. I'm wondering if I can use this glass to identify people."
If you line one side with something, can it be used as a mirror?"
"Uncle Hao is a sage!" Su Hao praised sincerely, "Uncle Hao, I heard from the Yi people that they do have a layer of reflective material lined on the colored glass and then use it to make mirrors, which are better than what we usually use.
The bronze mirror is several times clearer."
"Oh? Is there such a way?" Hao Yizong became more energetic and asked, "What are these barbarians putting on top?"
"Let me think about it..." Su Hao patted his head, a little worried. He remembered that when he was studying, the teacher talked about the silver mirror reaction, which seemed to use silver nitrate, ammonia and glucose. But in the Ming Dynasty, let him
Where can I find silver nitrate and ammonia? On second thought, it seems that Westerners invented the mirror earlier than the invention of ammonia. So, what method did they use?
"Uncle Hao, sorry for my nephew's ignorance. I still can't remember how the Yi people made the mirror. In my impression, it seems to be lined with tin platinum." Su Hao said.
Hao Yizong said: "I have also thought about using tin platinum. When I was at the Ministry of Industry, I learned how to make tin platinum. I can make tin platinum as thin as a cicada. But the difficulty is how to make this tin platinum.
How about pasting it on the glass?"
"Tin platinum?" An idea flashed in Su Hao's mind, and he blurted out one word: "Mercury, it must be mercury!"
"Mercury?" Hao Yizong was stunned. He thought for a moment and couldn't help but clapped his hands and shouted: "Yes, it must be mercury!"
"Uncle Hao, do you know how to do it?" Su Hao wondered. He could think of mercury because he had heard of this method in the past, but he didn't know how to plate mercury on glass. But
Looking at Hao Yizong, he seems to have figured out the entire process.
Hao Yizong smiled and said: "My dear nephew, you are not a craftsman, so naturally you don't know this. The ancients once said: mercury can digest gold and silver and turn it into clay, which is why people use it to plate things. We craftsmen need to plate gold and silver on the utensils.
They all use mercury as a medium."
"I see, my nephew is really ignorant." Su Hao suddenly realized, and at the same time secretly blamed himself. Mercury can dissolve many kinds of metals to form the so-called "amalgam". This is common sense, but he actually wants an ancient person to remind him of this.
a little.
Hao Yizong said: "My dear nephew, it is quite difficult for you to think of the method of mercury. How many scholars know these things? These craftsmanship of our craftsmen are nothing more than strange skills in the eyes of the chiefs of the Ministry of Industry.
, you are not allowed to reach the upper echelons of elegance. As a scholar, it is really rare for you to be able to accompany me, an old craftsman, to talk about these craftsmanship."
Su Hao shook his head: "Uncle Hao, my nephew thinks that the things that can directly make the country strong and the people rich are these strange skills. The so-called sage's articles can neither be used to fill the stomach nor used to kill people in battle.
Enemy, it’s enough for a few great Confucian scholars to study and study it. How can there be any reason for all the young people in the world to study these articles?"
"If your nephew's words were heard by the gentleman from the academy, he would definitely accuse you of being an insult to your gentleness!" Hao Yizong laughed heartily. It had to be said that Su Hao's words were really in line with his temper.
"The steel is out!"
The two were chatting happily when Hao Qing's shouts came from the yard. Su Hao stood up and wanted to go out to take a look, but Hao Yizong grabbed him. When the molten steel was poured out of the crucible, the heat was the greatest.
People who have exercised can easily become overwhelmed.
After a while, Hao Qing came in and said to Hao Yizong and Su Hao: "Dad, Su Baihu, the steel is finished. Do you want to go and take a look?"
Hao Yizong then stood up and said to Su Hao with a smile: "My dear nephew, let's go and see if the newly made steel looks like what you want."
When everyone came to the yard, they saw that the steelmaking fire had been extinguished and the crucible had been put back in its place. Next to the furnace was a mold made of refractory material, with several pieces of steel billet still emitting billowing heat inside.
.
Hao Yizong pointed to the steel billet. Hao Qing understood what his father meant, picked up a piece with pliers and placed it on the anvil. The fifth son brought over a big hammer and stood aside. Hao Yizong took a small hammer and gently
The ground hit the steel billet, and Xiao Wuzi picked up the sledgehammer and hit the place where Hao Yizong had hit it. In this way, Hao Yizong and Xiao Wuzi began to hit with a small hammer and a sledgehammer.
Hao Qing was not idle either. He kept turning the billet over so that his father and Xiao Wuzi could beat the billet into the desired shape.
"Yes, it is indeed a good piece of steel." Hao Yizong praised while beating. As an old craftsman, he can feel the plasticity of the steel from the beating process, and then speculate what the steel billet will look like after it is completely cooled.
performance.
"Are you making a knife?" Su Hao was the only one free and couldn't intervene even if he wanted to. He could only watch the three people working enthusiastically. After repeated hammering, the small piece of steel billet had gradually taken shape.
It can be seen that what Hao Yizong wanted to create was a military sword.
"When the third son went to serve as a soldier, I promised him that as long as he could make a difference, I would get him a fine iron knife. Unfortunately, after so many years in the Ministry of Industry, I could not get a good piece of iron knife.
.A few days ago, my nephew said that if this manganese steel is refined, can it be stronger than iron? I will use this piece of steel to make a good knife for the mistress." Hao Yizong said.