Among the several important research projects of the Academy of Sciences, the research on Bayer rotating magnetic field AC motor and the improvement of electrolytic method for preparing metal elements are both for the production of industrial steel.
Steel production is the main basis for measuring a country's industrial development level. Among the two, steel production is an important reflection of a country's industrial science and technology level due to reasons such as high cost, low output, and complex technology.
In the second half of the 19th century, due to differences in technological levels and industrial markets, the crude steel output of major countries in the world also showed different development trends.
By the end of 1878, Britain's crude steel output was 9.98 million tons, the United States' output was 7.44 million tons, Germany's output was 4.89 million tons, France's 3.13 million tons, and Russia's steel output was 950,000 tons.
As the two representatives of the latter countries, Han's crude steel output has just exceeded 7,000 tons, reaching 7.60 tons, while Japan's crude steel production is still hovering around the 2,000 tons production area, and there is no big growth trend in a short period of time.
Compared with the major European and American powers, the annual crude steel output of 7060 tons is far behind. However, considering that Han is in its infancy in the steel smelting and processing production industry, and the Bayer rotating magnetic field AC motor responsible for the Academy of Sciences has been used in two
The research was successful two and a half months ago, so the power problem that limits crude steel smelting capacity has been successfully solved. It is not impossible that Han's crude steel output will increase rapidly in the next few years and even reach the development level of European and American countries.
Royal Academy of Sciences, Li Mingyuan, Liu Pu and others stood near a huge blast furnace and carefully observed the results of this inspection.
"Manganese metal has been used as an additive in smelting steel before. When the dosage of manganese added is within 10%, the steel products will show embrittlement. After increasing the dosage of manganese, increase the dosage of manganese to 10%."
At 12 to 13 percent, the embrittlement of the steel disappears. Then the temperature of the blast furnace is raised to one thousand degrees, heated until the metal liquefies, and then the liquid is placed under water for quenching to achieve hardened steel.
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Haffield, the first white technician to discover the hardening effect of manganese steel, excitedly introduced it to Li Mingyuan.
"Yes, you did a good job. I will let someone record your credit later."
Li Mingyuan said with satisfaction.
"Your Highness, what is the use of this manganese steel? Can it be used in artillery manufacturing?"
Liu Pu, who was pulled away by Li Mingyuan midway, asked.
"You should ask Harfield this question, he knows better."
Li Mingyuan smiled and threw the question to Haffield.
"General Liu, you may not understand the properties of manganese steel."
Harfield responded with a smile and explained, "Manganese steel has a high hardening strength. Using manganese steel as raw material to produce artillery cannons has high processing costs. On the other hand, the high hardening strength of manganese steel will also wear out the machinery and equipment in military factories.
Therefore, manganese steel is not suitable as a raw material for artillery barrels."
"Sir Harfield, if manganese steel cannot be used in the military industry, then what is the point of understanding it?"
The war in Argentina was about to begin. Liu Pu thought that Li Mingyuan had brought him to the institute to inspect technology related to military equipment, but he did not expect that the answer he got from Hafield was exactly the opposite. Therefore, he became confused.
"No, General, I think the invention of manganese steel is a milestone in the history of the development of special synthetic steel. Its significance is definitely no less than that of chromium steel and tungsten steel used in the military industry."
Hafield was very concerned about his invention achievements. When he heard Liu Pu's questioning question, he immediately explained, "The significance of invention manganese steel is to provide better quality steel raw materials for industrial production, such as in railway construction. Based on experimental data, manganese steel
Under the same conditions, the service life of the produced track is 2o to 25 times that of wrought iron. In industries such as machine tools and ore mining that require high-intensity industrial production, the high hardening properties of manganese steel can effectively avoid the hardness of ordinary steel equipment.
The economic losses caused by deficiencies, and the use of manganese steel in heavy industry cannot be replaced by other special steels such as chromium steel and tungsten steel. Its value will never be discounted due to deficiencies in the military field."
In 1819, as Faraday developed chromium steel in the laboratory, various other types of special synthetic steel were continuously developed. Among them, chromium steel, as the earliest synthetic steel discovered, was widely used in both military and civilian industries.
However, nickel steel, also invented by Faraday, has not been widely used due to immature technical conditions.
Making steel pipes for artillery, machine guns, and rifles generally requires the addition of chromium, nickel, molybdenum, platinum and other metal elements. However, because trace elements such as molybdenum and platinum were used late in the synthesis of special steel, coupled with the influence of some other factors, ten
The artillery barrels of the 1970s and 1980s had shortcomings such as rough manufacturing and short lifespan, and could not be widely used in military applications like the artillery of the mid-20th century.
Of course, after a few decades have passed and the problems restricting the large-scale use of manganese steel are solved, manganese steel can also be used to make steel helmets, tank armor, warheads for armor-piercing bullets, etc. But now, Li Mingyuan can only temporarily shelve its use.
The idea of manganese steel to improve the weapons and equipment of the National Defense Forces is to use manganese steel where it should be used.
Mineral resource mining and railway development are the development goals for the next stage.
There are many mines that have been explored in the Congo colony. Because they were worried that the leakage of information about the mines would trigger the prying eyes of other colonial countries, those mines remained unexploited. However, when the war ended, the international pressure faced by the Han Dynasty was relieved, and those mines that were previously
Mechanical equipment made of manganese steel as raw material can find its use.
When the Congolese colony was in the hands of the King of Belgium, the mineral resources mined there supported many mining companies such as Belgium and the United Kingdom. However, the size and technological development potential of Han Dynasty were much higher than those of Belgium. Li Mingyuan believed that with more suitable special
Steel materials, Han State's economic meeting with Congo will be more complete and smooth.
Apart from the role of manganese steel in colonial development, railway development was an important task in the Han Dynasty.
The existing railways in Han China are mainly leftovers from the governments of Brazil and Argentina. After Li Mingyuan led the National Defense Forces to occupy these areas, considering the current backwardness of railway construction technology, he did not want the railways that he had worked so hard to build to fall behind after a few years or more.
There was no plan to build a large-scale railway. However, after the invention of manganese steel, the service life of the rails was greatly extended, and the cost of building railways was accordingly reduced. Therefore, the construction of railways related to the Han National Exhibition can be put on the agenda.
Professional matters are left to professionals. In terms of special steel synthesis, since Haffield was able to develop manganese steel four years in advance, Li Mingyuan will naturally respect his research results. Therefore, he will make some contributions to Haffield's results.
After affirming and rewarding himself, Li Mingyuan asked Manister and Harfield to cooperate with other technicians to apply manganese steel to industrial production as soon as possible. Then, accompanied by a group of technicians, Li Mingyuan inspected the imported internal combustion engine.
Arc lamp, electrical and other projects, finally left the institute when it was getting dark.
After returning from inspecting the institute, Li Mingyuan immediately summoned the main generals and officials to discuss the plan to start the war in advance. After the meeting, the Han government immediately issued three policies:
An increase of 3.7 million Han Yuan in national debt is equivalent to 2,000,000 taels of silver.
2. Purchase grain and livestock from the people at a price that is 10% higher than the market price.
3. Promulgate the number of land fiefs corresponding to the title level
Each hereditary baron received 300 acres of tax-free land and 500 acres of official land.
The Viscount has five hundred acres of tax-free land and one thousand acres of official land,
The earl has 800 acres of tax-free land and 1,500 acres of official land,
The Marquis has 1,200 acres of 100-tax-free land and 2,000 acres of official land,
The duke has 1,800 acres of tax-free land and 2,500 acres of official land.
The tax-free land lasts for three generations, and taxes will be collected according to unified standards after three generations.
The three policies promulgated by the Han government were all related to military affairs. When the news spread to other countries in southern South America, especially Argentina, they understood that the Han government's war machine had begun to activate.