Chapter 659 Trial production of glass (seeking votes and subscriptions)
The Han tribe still has strict control over the export of iron metals, but iron pots, a necessity of life, are the least worried about sales and the fastest to make money. Therefore, in order to export a large number of iron pots to earn wealth for the tribe, and at the same time to prevent buyers from deliberately hoarding iron pots to transform weapons, Luo Chong has an idea for the material of the iron pots.
Raw coal that has not been desulfurized can also be used to smelt iron, but because the raw coal contains a lot of impurities, the smelted pig iron will become very brittle because it contains a lot of sulfur. The iron pot built with such high-sulfur iron cannot be used to make knives at all. In this way, the threat of the Han tribe exporting iron pots is automatically lifted.
Such behavior is undoubtedly a manifestation of technological crushing, and it is also a representative of the gradual improvement of the chemical industry in the Han tribe. It shows that the Han tribe has the ability to use scientific and technological means to make special metals in a targeted manner. Moreover, the improvement of the chemical industry is not only reflected in coal and iron, but also the newly developed glass factory is one of the projects.
On this day, Luo Chong came to a separate lake island in the east of Weishan County, which is a factory dedicated to smelting glass. Although the factory is still under construction, according to Luo Chong's order, small-scale trial production of glass has begun.
Now is the stage of exploring the process and formula, and the factory to be built in the future is for mass production. There is no conflict between the two, but a complementary relationship. Luo Chong came here in person this time to solve the problems encountered in the trial production of glass.
The Han tribe had previously made special glass with high-purity silica, but that thing was not popular. It used white crystal that Youye got by chance as raw material. This expensive material limited the promotion of glass. It can still reflect its value when used to make some high-end optical glass or heat-resistant glass, but it is obviously not possible to use flat glass or glassware for window paste, so cheap materials have to be used.
Looking at the dozens of craftsmen standing in the simple shed in front of him, Luo Chong couldn't help but sigh in his heart. When he first came, the entire Han tribe did not have so many people, not to mention that the dozens of people in front of him were all high-level craftsmen.
Among these people, there are craftsmen who have a lot of experience in metal smelting and processing, mold craftsmen who are good at carving wax models, potters who have worked in ceramics for several years, and even top students selected from schools who are good at mathematical calculations. Each of them is a senior talent of the Han tribe and a rare treasure of the Han tribe. These people were cultivated by the Han tribe with several years of time and countless resources.
Luo Chong just gave an order, and the elders of the Han tribe, such as Da Zui and Lame, who were in charge of metallurgy and ceramics, sent their most proud apprentices to provide strong support for the leader to set up a new department.
Glass is not a secret in the Han tribe. Da Zui personally participated in the production in the past, but because of the different materials, the production methods are also very different, so Luo Chong brought in several talents from the relevant departments that he could think of.
Glass is a product made by calcining and melting minerals, which is very similar to the method of metal smelting, so Luo Chong first thought of people from the metallurgical department. There is no other reason, because these people have experience in burning furnaces and their control of the temperature is not easily matched by others.
Secondly, when glass is in a molten state, it is a thick liquid, so the later plastic stage requires the use of molds and pulling processes. This is why Luo Chong found mold makers and pottery craftsmen. Although they are not very similar to what they usually deal with, they are definitely the fastest to master new processes.
The math students who were finally found were purely for making experimental records and improving formulas.
Now that the personnel needed are complete, Luo Chong has also prepared some related materials and equipment, and the trial production of glass is about to begin.
Burning glass is different from smelting iron. The raw materials cannot be directly mixed with the fuel, so a crucible made of heat-resistant materials is also required. Fortunately, the Han tribe has a lot of mature experience in this regard. The crucible used for cast iron can be used directly. Moreover, the temperature required for melting ordinary glass is not as exaggerated as copper and iron. The highest tolerance is less than one thousand degrees.
"First, let the fire in the furnace burn vigorously, and the others will prepare the materials." After seeing that everything was ready, Luo Chong gave orders to everyone.
"Yes, leader." Everyone responded and immediately started their own work.
Several craftsmen from the metallurgical workshop began to skillfully light the furnace, and then pumped the bellows or burned the fire, and the students who were responsible for recording the experimental data also began to prepare the materials according to the formula given by Luo Chong.
Sintering glass requires materials containing silicon oxide. The most common material containing this substance is sand. Of course, sand is either in the desert or on the seashore. The Han tribe is a geographical location that combines plains and mountains. The desert and the seashore are far away, so Luo Chong chose the river sand in the Liuyang River, as well as mica and feldspar collected from the mine.
Mica is a variant of limestone, which often grows together with limestone, but the stratum is deeper, and the Babaoshan of the Han tribe happens to have this kind of thing. The other feldspar can be regarded as a kind of translucent large gravel. Sometimes there are many on the stone mountain, and more are mixed in the pebbles by the river. These two things are actually very common substances, so it is not difficult to obtain, but they can only be used as auxiliary materials for river sand.
In addition to these basic materials, there are also coal powder, sulfate, chalk, which is lime crystal, and the most important catalyst, soda ash.
Fortunately, Luo Chong has gathered all these things, and even prepared several more chemical reagents for improving the formula. Soda ash is found in the salt mine west of Hanyang City, and it can be directly collected and purified. Luo Chong chose ferrous sulfate as the sulfate reagent, which can be obtained by simmering pyrite. With the experience of successfully making sulfuric acid before, it is not difficult to get some ferrous sulfate.
Since Luo Chong does not know the corresponding proportions of these materials, the formula he gave is just a value he estimated. Whether it can be successful or not depends on repeated experiments. This is one of the reasons why he personally presided over this experiment.
Anyway, no matter how it is matched, sand as the main ingredient accounts for the largest proportion, followed by chalk and coal powder, and finally soda ash and sulfate, the two catalysts. The weight of various materials is weighed with the wooden beam scale that has been popularized in the Han tribe, and then fully mixed in a hopper, and finally poured into the crucible that has been prepared long ago.
While preparing the materials, the temperature in the sintering furnace had already risen. Luo Chong immediately asked the craftsmen to put the crucible into the furnace, and then began to wait patiently. Taking advantage of this time when they had nothing to do, these craftsmen who often saw the leader also took the opportunity to chat with Luo Chong.
"Chief, can these sands really be burned into glass?" asked a student who had just finished preparing the materials.
"Of course, can't stones also be burned into metal? What's so strange about burning sand into glass?" Luo Chong answered with a smile. He was very happy to teach these outstanding craftsmen. These people could take the initiative to ask questions and know how to learn. This spirit of research made Luo Chong very happy.
"Chief, what exactly is glass? Many of us have never seen it. Can you tell us about it?" Another pottery craftsman asked.
"Glass, its properties are somewhat similar to ceramics. It is very hard, but very brittle. Like a porcelain bowl, it will break if dropped. It can be used to make containers, or it can be made into flat glass like tiles and used as building materials. It can be said that its functions are basically the same as ceramics. If there is any difference, its biggest feature is that it can be made as transparent as water." Hearing someone ask a question, Luo Chong immediately introduced it to the many craftsmen around him.
"Wow, glass is transparent. Doesn't this mean that if you make a jar out of glass, you can see what's inside directly from the outside?!" A craftsman who was burning a furnace suddenly turned around and exclaimed.
Others looked at Luo Chong uncertainly, and Luo Chong nodded immediately, "Yes, this is one of the characteristics of glass. Although it is similar to ceramics in that it is used as a container, we can see what is inside the container through the container. Of course, this is just one of the uses. You can also use your imagination to see if there are any other places where this special material can be used."
Hearing the leader's question, many craftsmen began to use their brains. It was a rare opportunity to discuss such technical things with the leader. Maybe they could even be rewarded for their unique ideas. Because the merit system of the Han tribe has regulations specifically for inventions, these craftsmen are usually very willing to actively participate in similar thinking.
After a while, someone suddenly said, "Just now the leader said that glass can also be made into building materials like tiles, but if the glass is transparent, it is not suitable for paving the floor. I think it is useless. It is better to use tiles directly."
Luo Chong did not answer him, but just smiled, then glanced at everyone, indicating that they should continue to guess.
At this time, the student who was responsible for recording the experimental data suddenly asked, "Chief, is glass afraid of fire?"
"Isn't that nonsense? If it is not afraid of fire, then what are we burning now?" A pottery craftsman said on the spot, causing a burst of laughter.
Luo Chong also smiled and still did not speak, but the student did not want to be looked down upon by everyone, so he immediately explained, "That's not what I meant. I heard the leader say that glass is transparent, so I want to ask if glass can be used to make lampshades for oil lamps. Think about it, if a transparent glass lampshade is added to the outside of the oil lamp, it can be used to prevent wind and rain, and it is much brighter than ordinary paper lampshades. I just don't know if the glass will be damaged if it is often burned by fire?"
When everyone heard him say this, they stopped laughing. Some began to nod in agreement, while others discussed the feasibility of it with each other. However, they were not familiar with the properties of the new material such as glass, so after discussing for a while, they finally looked at Luo Chong together.
"Your idea is very good. This idea of using glass as a lampshade is indeed feasible. And I have just said that glass and ceramics have similar properties, so as long as it is not directly placed on the fire, it is no problem to just make an outer lampshade. Compared with paper-pasted lampshades, glass does have irreplaceable advantages. First of all, glass will not be lit like paper-pasted lanterns, which is a very valuable advantage."
Seeing everyone looking at him, Luo Chong immediately explained, and his last sentence was not without basis. With the popularization of basic education in the Han tribe, families who basically did not light lamps at night also began to light lamps.
Families with little money directly use oil lamps, and wealthy families will also prepare lanterns for their children who are studying. They are the kind of lanterns made of bamboo as the frame and a layer of white paper on the outside. Covering the candle or oil lamp with such a thing can not only be used to block the wind, but also make the emitted flames softer and more even.
However, this kind of lamp made of paper still has great hidden dangers. Just a month before Luo Chong went to the grassland, a fire caused by paper lanterns broke out in Hanyang County. Fortunately, it was put out in time and there were no casualties. The economic loss caused by the fire was not great. The fire was limited to one room at that time, burning a desk and quilt, and nothing else was a big deal.
From this, we can see that the important use of glass lampshades for lamps, regardless of other characteristics, just the fact that glass cannot be burned is enough to attract people's attention.
In the factory, the student who heard Luo Chong's praise smiled shyly. Just when everyone was about to continue discussing the use of glass, the craftsman in charge of the fire suddenly reported.
"Chief, I think it seems to be almost burned inside. Do you want to take it out and have a look?"
"Well, take it out." Luo Chong nodded and said. When everyone heard that the glass might be burned, they also hurriedly surrounded it, wanting to see this magical glass.
The craftsman who was watching the furnace quickly took the crucible out of the sintering furnace with a large iron fork and placed it in front of a casting table made of black iron. Luo Chong took a look and found that the material inside had indeed been burned into a bright red viscous liquid. At first glance, it looked like molten iron, but it was obvious that the fluidity of this thing was far worse than that of molten iron. If we only look at the state, it feels more like a viscous substance.
"Take a spoon and skim off the impurities on it, then stir it with an iron hook. Be quick and stir it more. The mold group prepares the mold."
Luo Chong issued a series of orders, and everyone started to get busy.
After a while, the glass liquid, which had gone through two steps of skimming impurities and stirring, was put into the sintering furnace again for secondary heating under Luo Chong's order. Because the temperature was lowered by the stirring just now, Luo Chong was worried that the fluidity at this time was not enough to complete the casting, so he had to heat it again.
After a while, the glass liquid, which had increased its fluidity by increasing the temperature, was brought out and poured directly into the iron mold. After the temperature naturally dropped and cooled, a piece of milky white, translucent, slightly grayish glass filled with a large number of tiny bubbles appeared in front of everyone.
Luo Chong looked at this thing and murmured, "Is it a failure again?"
(End of this chapter)
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