Chapter 263 Stunned
Wu Hui stared at the computer screen, unsure of what to say.
Lin Sicheng has developed five major categories of BTA compound systems: solvent-based compound, inorganic salt synergy, multifunctional environmentally friendly composite corrosion inhibitor, plant-derived-inorganic compound, and organic material composite sealing.
How many categories did the Institute for Advanced Study in Cultural Heritage and the National Museum of China study?
The answer is one.
Solvent-based compounding: using water, acetone or ethanol as solvents to improve the corrosion inhibition efficiency of BTA.
The National Museum's project is a bit shorter, having been underway since 2005, which is about three years now. But the Institute of Cultural Studies has been researching for a full nine years.
The exact amount of money invested by the two companies is probably only known to the bureau leader specifically in charge of project funding. As for manpower, the two project teams together have around 80 or 90 people, if not a hundred.
Look here: three experimental groups with sixteen people, plus twenty-four or twenty-five support staff, which is less than a third of the total.
From the very first day the laboratory was established, Lin Sicheng had been researching for less than a year. Even if all the experimental consumables were replaced with gold, would that be more than one-tenth of the work done by two state-owned enterprises?
The result was surprisingly good; the effect was actually 10% higher than that of the National Museum of China and the Academy of Arts & Design.
Even so, the two institutions have already completely blocked this path, forcing other research institutions to find alternative routes.
This refers to the second type in Lin Sicheng's research report: inorganic salt synergy.
I remember it was in 2000 when Dou Peng, who was studying for a master’s degree in materials science at Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, first proposed the synergistic effect of BTA and surfactant compound on the anti-discoloration performance of copper materials.
Four years later, in 2004, Beijing University of Technology initially confirmed that the combination of tungstate (NaWO) and BTA had a synergistic corrosion inhibition effect.
Until this year, Professor Hu Gang and his team from the School of Cultural Heritage and Museology at Peking University confirmed for the first time that the combination of BTA and sodium molybdate forms a composite film on the surface of bronze, which significantly improves the slow-release efficiency.
This is considered the earliest and most significant research achievement in China regarding the combined corrosion inhibitory effects of BTA and inorganic salts. It is still in the verification stage and no papers have been published yet; the news is only circulating within the cultural heritage community.
However, in Lin Sicheng's research report, this is merely one item in a directory within the root directory, parent directory, subdirectory, and so on.
That is: BTA complex system—synergistic effect of low-toxicity inorganic salts—molybdate complex—corrosion inhibition of copper artifacts: BTA + sodium molybdate complex forms a [Cu(I)-BTA] polymer and MoO composite film on the bronze surface...
If Lin Sicheng plagiarized this achievement, what about the rest?
Wu Hui had never seen Professor Hu Gang's research materials and core data, but having worked in this field for half his life, he could tell at a glance whether the data was accurate or not, or whether it was fabricated.
He even suspected that Professor Hu's data was probably not as detailed as Lin Sicheng's:
Every section and every step is meticulously recorded: how many times the initial test was conducted, the amount of data each time, how the parameters were adjusted, the retest process after adjustments, the reverse verification of data after successful research, the application environment pre-test, the design of the process flow...
It's fair to say that all that's left is to get it on the production line for mass production.
This is just one example of inorganic salt synergy; there are more than a dozen similar achievements, and even three major categories outside the parent directory:
Multifunctional compound, plant-derived-inorganic compound, composite material sealing.
Although not a biology expert, Wu Hui at least knows what tannic acid, catechins, and polyaspartic acid are.
The first two come from common plants such as grapes and tea, while the last comes from the shells of mollusks such as snails.
As for glucose, anyone who can read knows what it is.
Can these prevent rust and act as corrosion inhibitors for metal artifacts?
The answer is yes: our ancestors were using it as early as the pre-Qin period, two thousand years ago.
It can certainly be used now, but firstly, there are too many restrictions; secondly, the cost is too high; and thirdly, the effect is too weak.
The extraction and purification process alone takes a lot of effort, so why not use cheaper and more convenient chemical agents?
Even though it's toxic, can't we just wear a mask?
Therefore, when the project was first proposed, neither the Institute of Cultural Studies nor the National Museum of China had considered it at all.
I never imagined that these things could be mixed with inorganic salts and chemical agents.
I never imagined that it could not only reduce the toxicity of corrosion inhibitors, but also increase the corrosion inhibition rate to over 96%.
What does this mean?
To give just one example, the solvent blend used by the National Museum of China and the Academy of Arts & Sciences is 75%, while Professor Hu Gang's molybdate blend is 80%...
As for the organic material composite sealing system, it only exists in imagination.
To put it another way: in an era when people were still riding horses and fighting with matchlock guns, Lin Sicheng led a group of savages to build a tank.
Don't believe me?
Take a look at Zhu Kaiping's resume as a researcher who specifically carried out the experiment: his master's and doctoral studies were in scientific archaeology, with only a slight involvement in sub-fields such as metallurgy and ceramic composition analysis.
However, corrosion inhibition technology belongs to pure materials science, and the gap between the two is not a mountain, but the Milky Way.
Looking at the four project teams from the Institute of Advanced Study in Humanities, National Museum of China, Peking University, and Beijing University of Technology, which one isn't led by top materials science experts?
Therefore, if the findings in the report were indeed the work of Zhu Kaiping, Wu Hui would be willing to eat the computer alive.
Even when given the report and asked to recite it, Zhu Kaiping couldn't finish it.
It was simply a matter of following Lin Sicheng's instructions and doing exactly what he said, copying him meticulously.
Wang Qizhi was slightly better, but only to a limited extent: when given the report, he could barely understand it, which meant he had just barely escaped the realm of savages.
Even Wang Qizhi almost became a savage, let alone these people in the laboratory?
But on the other hand, Lin Sicheng didn't even receive his graduation certificate, so he wasn't even a college student. How did he manage to do his research?
After looking at it again, Wu Hui could no longer contain himself, and his fingers holding the mouse trembled involuntarily: "Give me a laboratory."
Wang Qizhi was completely stunned: "Huh?"
"What do you mean, 'huh'?" Wu Hui pointed at the screen. "Wang Qizhi, do you know what it means if these papers are published?"
Wang Qizhi certainly knew what Wu Hui wanted to do: verification.
He also understood: Wu Hui was too shocked, and even couldn't believe his eyes.
"But the problem is, this verification takes many days?" Wang Qizhi asked, puzzled. "Sir, what about the historical sites in Shanxi? Aren't you going to lead the investigation or provide guidance anymore?"
What kind of guidance am I supposed to give?
Wu Huiteng stood up, took out his phone, and started dialing as he walked out.
Just as I stepped out of the lab, the call connected, and Wu Hui's voice came through from afar:
"Director, I need to ask for a few days off."
"It's nothing, I just fell and hurt myself, I might have to stay in the hospital for a few days..."
"Old Sun? Oh, he didn't fall..."
Sun Jiamu's eyes widened in disbelief.
He had always worked in administration and was a complete novice, so he had no idea how much this report on the computer would shock Wu Hui.
Wang Qizhi sighed: "To be able to come up with such a lame excuse shows how determined Director Wu is."
He turned around, beckoned, and called Zhu Kaiping over.
Director Wu needs to verify the results; we can't very well ask him to bring in people from Beijing, can we?
What's the point of keeping it a secret?!
The only option is to stop all experiments and fully cooperate!
Wu Hui's verification process took a week...
...
At 8:30 a.m., just as I was about to start work, there were already many people standing in the molding room of the experimental area on the second floor.
A group of people stood silently around the electric kiln.
The furnace door had been open all night and had long since cooled to room temperature. Lin Sicheng put on gloves and used pliers to take out the three boxes.
More than a dozen people held their breath, not daring to make a sound.
After more than half a month of hard work, whether the effort has paid off and whether the firing has been successful depends on the contents of these three boxes.
Lin Sicheng put down the clamps, opened the box lid, glanced at it, and sighed again.
Zhao Xiuneng's heart skipped a beat: It didn't burn properly?
He instinctively peeked out, then froze as if stunned.
Shang Yan, Li Zhen, Fang Jin, Sun Le (former assistant), the heads of the three research groups, researchers, technicians, assistants, interns... more than ten people gathered around.
Just one glance, and everyone's eyes lit up simultaneously:
Two cups, one saucer.
The entire piece is smooth and moist, with a glaze color like clear lake water, bluish-white with a hint of blue, as if it were carved from jade.
The vessel is elegant and delicate in shape, with a thin and lustrous body that is like ice or fat, and subtly translucent.
Li Zhen's eyes widened slightly, a hint of intoxication in them: "So beautiful?"
Zhao Xiuneng nodded in deep agreement, looking at Lin Sicheng: "Junior brother, you're still not satisfied with the fever reaching this level?"
Lin Sicheng was naturally dissatisfied.
He was firing white-glazed porcelain, but ended up firing a batch of bluish-white porcelain.
That's bad enough, but the glaze is even uneven?
Those spots in the center of the cup: at first glance, they look like decorative patterns, but they are actually glaze build-up caused by improper firing temperature.
Of course, he was the only one who was dissatisfied.
For example, Shang Yan and Zhao Xiuneng were both extremely satisfied.
They had only been back from Shanxi for half a month, and today was the first time they had opened the kiln. According to their previous estimates, they would most likely produce a batch of bricks (porcelain-bodied tile-like material), or even a batch of slag.
If a glaze can be formed, it's a blessing from heaven. I never thought it could be fired successfully on the first try, let alone produce a masterpiece.
These three items are like winning five million dollars with just two dollars...
The more she looked at it, the more satisfied she became. Shang Yan picked up the dish and poured half a cup of water into the spotless porcelain cup.
Then shine a flashlight on it.
Suddenly, a series of gasps rang out.
The water was still sloshing, ripples spreading in the cup, but when the beam of the flashlight shone on it, it cast spots of light on the outside of the cup.
A dazzling display of light and shadow, a bizarre and fantastical spectacle.
But upon closer inspection: the cup is actually not thin, about one millimeter.
So, how transparent must it be?
Sun Le exclaimed softly, "Shadow Celadon?"
Li Zhen was about to say something, but paused and then shut her mouth.
It doesn't seem like it.
Although she had never seen what the famous Yingqing porcelain looked like, ancient books described it as having a thin, jade-like body, a lustrous, bluish-white glaze, and translucent, shadowy patterns.
The first two sentences describe the body, glaze, and texture of Yingqing porcelain, while the last two sentences describe its translucency.
Since it was just a blurry shadow, it would at most show some light and shadow, and it would never be like this: even the lines of the ripples in the water in the cup can be seen through the cup wall.
Sure enough, Lin Sicheng shook his head: "It's far from being a celadon porcelain. At most, it's somewhat similar to the thin-bodied porcelain of Dehua white porcelain... The Tiangong Kaiwu describes it as having a plain, jade-like texture, as thin as a cicada's wing, and as clear as ice. That's about it... But it's white porcelain, not this celadon!"
Zhao Xiuneng nodded: "Has the thin-walled porcelain technique of Dehua white been restored?"
Lin Sicheng was taken aback: Had they really stumped him?
Strictly speaking, it's not quite there; at most, it's only half-restored. Specifically, it refers to the thinness and whiteness described as "thin as paper, white as jade, and translucent as ice."
For example, like this:
For example, like this:
If we compare transparency, it might not even be as good as the eggshell cup from the Chenghua period of the Ming Dynasty.
It's not that I didn't want to understand, but rather that different focuses led to technical limitations. So, to put it another way, could it be that I stumbled upon the last shortcoming of Dehua thin-walled porcelain?
Of course, it's not that simple. Besides, what I'm restoring now is Song Dynasty egg white jade, not Ming Dynasty Dehua white jade.
Isn't this completely irrelevant?
Silently mocking himself, Lin Sicheng sighed: It's ruined!
He waved his hand: "Senior Brother Fang, put it away!"
Fang Jin put on the gloves, but before he could take them, Zhao Xiuneng stepped forward to stop him: "No... Junior Brother, is this Dehua white thin-walled porcelain?"
Lin Sicheng understood what he meant: Although the egg white jade was not restored, we restored the real Dehua white jade, right?
The question is, will the Dehua kilns recognize this?
He sighed: "Senior Brother Zhao, how thin is Dehua Bai now?"
Zhao Xiuneng froze, his lips moving but no words coming out.
Shang Yan belatedly realized that Lin Sicheng had accidentally solved the most difficult problem for Dehua Bai?
But that's not right.
Ancient books record that the thinnest Dehua white porcelain was three hao (one millimeter), but how thin is Dehua white porcelain now?
It's 0.2 millimeters thick, about the same thickness as paper. That's why there's a saying that "it looks like paper, but it's actually porcelain."
To put it bluntly: the technology development path has gone astray.
Therefore, even Lin Sicheng could not fire porcelain that was only 0.2 millimeters thick to be as transparent as ice.
However, it is not without a solution, and strictly speaking, the three pieces fired by Lin Sicheng are the real Dehua white thin-bodied porcelain.
That's why Zhao Xiuneng was so excited.
But looking at Lin Sicheng, he seems to be "just so-so".
Since he already knew it, it was like he was reviewing his lessons from his previous life, so there was nothing to be excited about.
After instructing Fang Jin to put away the cups, Lin Sicheng assigned tasks: some to practice making clay, some to shape the blanks, and some to mix the glazes.
After making the arrangements, he sat down at the computer and prepared to recalculate the redox conversion data.
But just as he turned on the machine, there was a series of "thump thump thump" sounds outside, and Lin Sicheng turned around.
Yes, the teacher and Director Wu.
But why does he look like a savage?
The two looked like they had just run out of the mountains: their eyes were bloodshot, their eye sockets were sunken, their beards were unkempt, and their hair was a mess like a chicken coop.
He was still wearing a white lab coat, but it was dirty and wrinkled, like a rag. Even from a distance, a faint, sour smell, as if he hadn't showered for days, wafted over.
Lin Sicheng looked stunned and subconsciously stood up.
Wu Hui rushed up to him like a whirlwind, his eyes burning as he looked down at him as if he were an alien.
Lin Sicheng immediately understood: they were stunned by the research results on iron artifacts.
After a moment's thought, he smiled and said, "Director Wu, please have a seat!"
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