"Experience in bomb disposal...it seems there's nothing in the records!"
However, Mayor Liu, please trust Shen Ting.
Team Leader Shen is always reliable.
In the past, many cases were saved thanks to Team Leader Shen.
Vice Minister Song said.
Liu Fanming was still somewhat uneasy.
After all, this matter has blown up too much now.
If the bomb disposal fails and the bomb explodes, the seven missing persons and Team Leader Shen and others will likely die.
As the mayor of Beijing, he is absolutely culpable.
With his last glimmer of hope, Liu Fanming said:
"Minister Song, could you contact Team Leader Shen immediately and ask him to suspend operations?"
Let's discuss it and see if we can find a more reliable solution.
Song Jian'an gave a wry smile and slowly shook his head:
"Mayor Liu, this... I'm afraid that won't work."
The case of this series of bomb threats has been handed over to Team Leader Shen Ting for full responsibility.
He made all decisions on site.
In principle, during the handling of this case, without the minister's direct instructions, even I have no authority to command Team Leader Shen.
"And the fact that the minister has not issued any new instructions is itself a statement of attitude—"
He chose to trust Shen Ting and acquiesced to his decision.
Liu Fanming opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing.
He turned his head again and looked at the dark, empty mine entrance that seemed to swallow all light, feeling a bit dizzy.
Now, all he can do is pray that Shen Ting, deep inside the mine, can successfully defuse the bomb.
...
It was completely different from the anxiety, noise, and tension outside the mine.
Deep inside the mine, in the collapsed tunnel, there was an almost frozen, deathly silence.
Only the occasional hissing sound from the liquid nitrogen spray tank could be heard.
Time ticked by, and suddenly, the crew-cut armed policeman lowered his voice and spoke excitedly:
"Team Leader Shen, the mercury in the level has frozen solid..."
Shen Ting's gaze fell on the screen of the small portable X-ray diffractometer next to him.
On the screen, a CT scan image of the bomb's interior was displayed.
Inside the level, mercury does indeed contract and accumulate at the bottom of the glass tube.
The volume has shrunk significantly, and the edges are no longer smooth.
Based on numerous characteristics, it has temporarily lost its liquidity.
"Um!"
Shen Ting responded with only one word, his voice calm and even.
He handed the liquid nitrogen nozzle to Xu Xinyi beside him:
"Sister Xu, continue spraying intermittently, keeping the rhythm and angle as I just did."
The target area remains unchanged, and the level is kept at a low temperature.
You can't stop, but you also can't overdo it.
Otherwise, the glass tube will become brittle and crack.
"clear!"
Xu Xin nodded vigorously and took the spray nozzle.
She wasn't a bomb disposal expert, but she had excellent mental fortitude and incredibly steady hands. She continued her work strictly following the rhythm that Shen Ting had just demonstrated.
Shen Ting turned to separate armed police officer Chen Hao for bomb disposal:
"Chen Hao, prepare the chemical etching solution."
Next, the outermost metal layer of the sandwich shell will be etched.
"As for 304 stainless steel..."
Shen Ting thought for a moment and said, "Let's use ferric chloride solution."
Ferric chloride is a strong oxidizing agent that can destroy the chromium oxide passivation film on the surface of stainless steel.
It can also react with major metal components such as iron, nickel, and chromium to achieve etching and dissolution.
It is a commonly used reagent for etching 304 stainless steel.
Chen Hao took out several bottles labeled with chemical components, a measuring cup, a stirring rod, and a corrosion-resistant plastic container from his special operations kit.
Shen Ting continued:
"Pure ferric chloride aqueous solution is not ideal for etching rate and uniformity of 304."
I need you to prepare it according to this ratio: ferric chloride, at a concentration of 30%;
Add 18% hydrochloric acid;
Add 20% nitric acid;
Deionized water is used as the solvent.
Note the order of addition: add acid to water first, and then add ferric chloride solid last, stirring slowly to dissolve.
Keep the temperature below 40 degrees Celsius.
As Chen Hao worked swiftly, he couldn't help but glance at Shen Ting in surprise:
"Team Leader Shen, is this an optimized special etching solution formula?"
As a professional bomb disposal expert, he naturally received relevant training in chemical handling of explosives.
Therefore, the formula for a standard ferric chloride etching solution is known.
However, the proportions provided by Shen Ting seem to be a formula specifically designed for the stainless steel in front of them.
"Yes, this ratio is more effective at breaking down the chromium oxide film on this 304 stainless steel."
The etching speed and quality are more controllable, and fewer impurities remain.
Shen Ting gave a brief explanation, his gaze never leaving the bomb's outer casing, specifically the "window" area he had chosen.
That was the outer casing that, under X-ray, showed a relatively simple internal structure and was furthest from the critical circuitry.
Soon, a solution with a slightly pungent odor and a dark yellowish-brown color was prepared in the container.
Chen Hao carefully poured it into a pressure spray bottle with a precision nozzle and handed it to Shen Ting:
"Team Leader Chen, the solution is ready, the temperature is around 35 degrees Celsius."
Shen Ting took the spray bottle, weighed it in his hand, took a few deep breaths, and his expression became even more focused.
Etching is one of the most dangerous and technically demanding steps in the entire bomb disposal process.
Unlike cutting wire, it doesn't follow a fixed pattern.
Unlike freezing, it doesn't rely mainly on physical changes.
Chemical etching is dynamic and continuous.
Furthermore, it is difficult to observe the chemical reaction process accurately in real time.
Therefore, this operation requires a high level of experience and skill from the operator.
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