Chapter 175
Chapter 175
Raw rubber becomes mature rubber.
Reuse of waste rubber.
These two extremely important experiments were both carried out in the rubber workshop.
While other places have gradually stopped work, the rubber workshop is still booming.
This concerns the fate of the entire rubber industry.
Whether rubber can be used more widely and whether it can be successfully upgraded depends on the efforts of the workshops here.
The properties of raw rubber are waterproofness and elasticity.
It's waterproof, needless to say, and perfect for making rain gear.
Elasticity is a more important attribute, and there is nothing that can replace it.
But the disadvantage of raw rubber is that it is sensitive to cold and heat. In such cold weather as today, it will definitely become stiff and crack.
The rubber of today's era has changed these properties.
In this way, rubber can be used in a wider range of applications, be more durable, and even be able to save previously discarded rubber.
As for the principle.
It is to use tar, ether compounds, and plant essential oils to dissolve the already shaped raw rubber.
Everyone knows it now.
After the rubber of the water melon tree is extracted, substances such as acetic acid must be added to make the originally thin rubber become viscous, so that it can become rubber that can be shaped.
During the finalization period, various utensils are made.
The problem is that once it is finalized, it will always be that way and can never be changed.
The rubber extracted from rubber grass is sticky after extraction, and it will be directly shaped after being air-dried.
Both forms are raw rubber.
Now, based on these steps, we add another step.
Dissolving stage.
The tar produced by burning coal to make coke dissolves the shaped raw rubber, thereby changing the shape of the rubber.
In this way, no matter what kind of rubber it is, it can be reused and recycled.
It is also very convenient to transport and can be shipped to other places for further processing.
At this point, it actually just increases the practicality of rubber.
It is not until the last step, when the rubber is smoked with sulfur, that the production of cooked rubber is completed.
Sulfur is mixed with rubber and heated.
The rubber made in this way will always remain soft and will not be affected by heat or cold.
That is to say.
People outside only know that Jiyuan is making cooked rubber.
But I didn't know it was so complicated inside.
This was indeed what Ji Yuan did on purpose.
He is not a person who holds on to a secret recipe.
It’s just that these secret recipes are not yet ready to be made public.
These two steps.
One is dissolution and the other is reshaping.
Only these two steps succeed.
This is the real beginning of rubber life.
In particular, it is not affected by hot or cold weather, which increases its service life, making it a truly amazing thing.
Many people say that rubber simply reshapes the life of the wheel.
Imagine what changes would come to the current carriage industry if a new set of tires were put on the wheels.
Just a few small parts attracted the freight chamber of commerce and all the households in Tianqi country to flock to it.
When mature rubber is used in tires in the future, how far will the rubber industry in the world develop?
The people in the rubber workshop actually don’t know about these prospects yet. They just know that they have to follow Lord Ji.
What Jiyuan wants to do is to make the world a better place and move faster.
He doesn't think this is forcing things to happen.
Because from the perspective of modern history.
The entire industrial civilization developed very rapidly.
There is no need to worry that the people cannot keep up. Not only can they keep up, they can also contribute to the country.
Don't underestimate their ability to adapt, and don't underestimate their creativity.
Moving forward is always right and always good.
It was incredibly cold in Suzhou in late October, and Ji Yuan still wore woolen clothes under his official uniform.
However, the price of coal in Suzhou has dropped this year, and many people have bought coal, so their lives are not so difficult.
It was Ji Yuan’s first time to celebrate the New Year in the northwest. The wind in the morning and evening was freezing cold, but it was also because he was young that he could walk freely in the wind and snow.
By November, everything in the Northwest had basically come to a halt.
The locals also prepared New Year's goods early in preparation for this year's winter. It snowed heavily and when we woke up in the morning, we could see snow when we opened the door.
This year, there is one more thing among the local population.
That is, the price of coal has dropped, so I bought a few more pounds of charcoal, and planted some rubber grass in April next year. Someone will definitely come to harvest it.
Some people also mentioned the wheat experimental field in Guantian, and wondered whether the wheat seeds had been cultivated.
The one that is talked about the most is probably the big guy.
Steam pump.
Suzhou is no longer unique now.
I heard that the winters in Guangdong are very warm and people can continue to work. Moreover, the mine operators there have already obtained the drawings of the steam pumps.
They started construction in September and it's November now. If they work faster, it can be put into use.
Many people have also figured it out.
Isn’t this thing just an enhanced version of Niu Li Ma Li?
The difference is that this thing is stable and can be operated without stopping.
If all the water is pumped out, we can still use that much force to pull out the ore at the bottom of the well.
Although you need to change the way you use your force, it is not difficult. There are always more solutions than problems.
Some little tricks may seem ordinary, but they are very useful when they are put into practice.
What’s wrong with folk remedies, as long as they work!
Jiyuan naturally encourages everyone to do this.
Many machines are developed through repeated attempts.
Anyway, the people of Suzhou already know what a steam engine is and are not afraid of it.
We have used cows and horses, so what’s wrong with using a steam engine?
Many people can even explain the principle behind it.
We are not fools, and our ability to accept things is not that weak.
As more and more steam engines are used in Tianqi, more people will accept this thing.
Ox carts, horse carts, and water wheels all rely on leverage.
This also aroused the curiosity of many craftsmen.
Steam power seemed to have opened a window for them.
Perhaps this steam can be used in other places?
Perhaps, there are other functions?
An old lady named Huang from Songjiang Prefecture said, "I heard from a lady named Gao from Jianmeng Prefecture that Lord Ji said that steam engines can be used on textile looms."
The lady surnamed Gao was naturally a member of the Gao family. Like her family members, she loved to tinker with these things, and it was the same after she married into Songjiang Prefecture.
Because of her interest in machines, Gao got to know Grandma Huang, who improved textile tools, and revealed what Ji Yuan had said.
"How about we make a steam engine and use it on the textile machine?"
Do what you say.
Although there is no snow in Songjiang Prefecture in winter, it is still very cold.
Even so, Grandma Huang still wrote to Madam Gao, asking her to help her design a steam loom.
I would also like to ask Madam Gao to contact Lord Ji. They, the weavers, can also set up a union. Can they exchange it for the design drawings of the steam engine?
Madam Gao knew some of the internal structures, so they did not wait for news directly, but instead inferred how it should be used on the loom based on the principles.
They are also drafting a convention for weavers.
Grandma Huang knew the lives of the weavers very well. These women weaved day and night and also had many other things to do at home and in business.
If they set up such a weaving association, would they be able to make demands on the other party?
The winter, which is supposed to be quiet and silent, seems different this year.
Different changes are taking place in different places.
The official school of Ning'an Prefecture, Dianzhou Prefecture.
The third local children's examination is about to begin.
There are still three stages: county examination, prefectural examination, and academy examination.
In Ning'an Prefecture, it is the county examination.
Today, there are more than a dozen private schools and official schools in Ning'an Prefecture, with more than 3,000 students.
There were more than 400 people who signed up for the county examination.
These more than 400 people were also selected from private schools and official schools in various places.
They are completely different from the students who took the first children's exam that year.
Cheng Yisan looked at the student list and highlighted a dozen people.
She had read the essays of these students and most of them would be able to pass the county examination. Once they passed the county examination, they would be sent to Wuxin Prefecture to take the prefectural examination.
This year, out of the ten places, three or four people should be able to pass.
I won’t talk about the Ning’an Prefecture’s first year’s child examination, which was already very sloppy. It can be regarded as a way to accumulate experience for everyone.
In the second year, still no one passed the imperial examination, but Cheng Yishen was not in a hurry. The school had been in operation for less than two years, and the students had been studying for less than two years. This situation was normal.
But this year is the third year, and there must be a result for this children's exam.
Because she knew that this might be her last time to preside over the local county examination.
In other words, if she fails to produce results, it will be her last time to preside over the county examination.
If you do it.
She might be able to become the first female official in Ning'an Prefecture.
This opportunity certainly did not come out of thin air.
Her father was a Tanhua scholar, and he was also a Tanhua scholar who was falsely accused.
In addition, because of her relationship with the ladies in Wuxin Mansion, everyone tried their best to make her a female official.
With her beginning, things will be easier later on.
Cheng Yisan took a deep breath.
Many people in Ning'an Prefecture are dissatisfied with the fact that there are female students working as minor officials.
If there are multiple women serving as officials, they must demonstrate their achievements.
Otherwise all those private activities will be in vain.
Cheng Yisan personally set the questions for this county exam, trying to make them as close to the prefectural exam as possible.
In order to avoid suspicion, my uncle, as the instructor of the provincial school, did not come to Ning'an Prefecture to celebrate the New Year this year.
She must seize this opportunity.
November 12, Suzhou City, Hexi Prefecture.
In the rubber workshop, Ji Yuan and others came in wearing gauze masks. Tar is easy to evaporate and has a strong smell, so this is also for safety reasons.
There are two deep pits, one is made of rubber grass, and the other is an abandoned rubber pit.
After the fusion of tar, the rubber in both pits indeed became soft.
Whether it is rubber made from rubber grass or discarded rubber, it will become sticky and soft again. Taking advantage of its softness at this moment, it can be plasticized immediately and wait for it to dry.
Ji Yuan watched the craftsmen carefully take out the rubber and decided to do it himself.
The molds that were prepared earlier can also be brought over.
First we made traditional rain gear, from raincoats to rain boots.
Next came the parts of the carriage.
Everyone recognizes the last mold, but no one knows why it appears here.
wheel.
Wooden wheels of a carriage.
Jiyuan coated the wheel with rubber around the circumference, pressed it with a fixed mold, and waited for it to dry and take shape.
What is this for?
Do you also make rain gear for the wheels?
But it's too easy to damage.
Wait a minute.
There is a next step.
Cai Fenglan and Wu Ying are eager to try.
But no matter how anxious you are, you have to wait for it to dry.
They both wanted to wait for the next step.
Liu Jun, who is in charge of the rubber field, jumped up excitedly: "It works! Rubber grass is just like the water melon tree, and can be used to make rubber!"
This is a bit strange to say,
Isn’t it natural that rubber grass can be used to make rubber?
That’s because, of course, this common weed was not called rubber grass in the past, it was simply called weed or dandelion!
Although everyone has already started collecting seeds and planting because they trust Jiyuan.
But when I really saw that this native plant could produce rubber, which everyone needs, I couldn't help but get excited.
Liu Jun feels that every time he works with Ji Yuan, he can achieve something.
This will see the results of rubber grass, which is expected, but it is exciting nonetheless.
Commander Li also breathed a sigh of relief.
If this thing is done, then his command camp will have accomplished a great feat.
Maybe we don’t have to worry about military supplies in the next few years?
He is a good military general, but he came here to make rubber just for this!
The success of rubber grass also spread throughout Suzhou City.
It really was a success!
coming year!
They will have an extra income next year!
Many people in Dianzhou Prefecture have made money from rubber, so they can do the same, right?
Life in Suzhou will surely get better and better in the future, right?
In this excited mood.
The most important step in turning raw rubber into cooked rubber has arrived.
It's November 15th and the weather outside is getting colder.
Generally speaking, rubber products will definitely harden and crack if left outside overnight.
That is to say, the workshop maintains a certain temperature, which makes the rubber in your hand soft.
But the workshop can always stay warm, but what about outside the workshop?
The carriage has to travel outdoors in the cold.
Once it becomes stiff, the money spent on the rubber is wasted.
Regarding this issue.
The last step is crucial.
The sulfur was already prepared.
The sulfur is at the bottom and the rubber is at the top, and the rubber is smoked with sulfur until its shape is fixed.
This step is not difficult.
But to find the right compound, generally speaking, you have to experiment slowly.
Just like the rubber from the water melon tree, it took a long time of experimentation to find out that the synthetic substance needed was vinegar, or a specific type of vinegar.
This is the difference between knowing the answer and not knowing the answer.
Ji Yuan would not be proud of himself for "cheating".
He just wanted to make useful rubber and indirectly promote the development of the steam engine.
At the same time, he also has to prove it to everyone.
There are top talents in every field.
Even if he wanted to return to Beijing, he had to bring this matter with him.
So that craftsmen all over the world can play their part and contribute to the improvement of rubber and steam engines.
However, even if you know the answer, you will encounter various problems when you actually conduct the experiment.
Ji Yuan, Cai Fenglan, Wu Ying and others stayed in the workshop until New Year's Eve and made more than a dozen batches of rubber products.
They took these rubber products to the cold outdoors or placed them next to a hot stove, and the rubber remained soft and did not change shape at all due to the weather.
Done!
It took several months.
It really worked!
“This rubber really doesn’t get hard and crack.”
“It won’t melt because of the heat.”
"Look! It's okay even if you put it in ice."
"It's okay to put it in the snow!"
"Very good!"
"It's done!"
“This is cooked rubber!”
Everyone in the rubber workshop was ecstatic.
In this cold winter.
They changed the rubber.
Changed the rubber industry!
No, it should be said that the era changed the rubber industry.
Ji Yuan looked at what he had in his hand and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Rubber. Real rubber.
Finally made it.
Improve the sealing of steam engines, improve carriages, and the rollers of various utensils.
And the tires of the carriage.
"Where are the tires?" Ji Yuan asked, "Didn't I make a mold for the carriage before? Can you bring it over now?"
To the surprise of others.
Other rubber products are basically milky white or creamy yellow.
Only the tires in my hand are different.
This thing is actually black?
After all, this is the real killer.
Tires with added carbon powder will be more wear-resistant.
Improve the quality by at least ten times.
Ji Yuan thought.
By the spring, the Miners' Association will surely influence more people.
And this thing is his life-saving talisman.
Who would have thought that adding carbon powder to rubber could make the rubber itself ten times more durable?
The new year is coming soon.
Fortunately, he worked hard and finished everything he needed to do.
"The wheel is broken." Ji Yuan said, "Don't tell anyone about this."
Cai Fenglan.
Wuying and Liujun all graduated from the same school in the prefecture.
Ji Yuan trusts them very much.
What should such a good thing be used for?
Nature is the place where you can make a splash.
Ji Yuan already had some vague idea in his mind, and after reading the prince's letter, he became even more certain.
There's more to it than just the tires.
This winter, I am destined not to be idle.
But the next thing must be done in secret.
When Wuying and Jiyuan were the only ones left, Jiyuan mentioned an event from the past.
It happened a long, long time ago.
"Do you remember that when we were studying archery in the prefecture, I not only learned horse riding, but also archery."
Ji Yuan and his friends are always straightforward, without any beating around the bush.
Wuying naturally remembered it.
It was they who taught Cai Fenglan, Bai Heshang and others the archery skills.
What's wrong?
Ji Yuan took the bow and arrow from the table and said, "At that time, I was wondering if the bow and arrow could be improved so that it can shoot the farthest distance with the least force."
"How is this possible!?"
Wu Yinggang finished speaking and added: "That's also possible."
It's not that he changed his words casually.
But too many changes have taken place in Tianqi Kingdom over the years.
If they could even create something as miraculous as a steam engine or a water pump, improving bows and arrows didn't seem like a far-fetched dream.
"The Northern Di have quite a few powerful bows and arrows, but our Tianqi Kingdom has never learned the essence of them," Wuying said.
The nomadic people in the north were very good at riding and shooting, so it was not surprising that they had more advanced bows and arrows.
There were also frictions of varying degrees in the north, and the Wuying at the border guards were well aware of this.
Ji Yuan nodded: "What I want you to do is to be stronger than their bows and arrows."
Even rubber with carbon powder added is not a panacea.
The ratio needs to be adjusted constantly.
The ones with more carbon powder are stronger and more brittle.
The ones with less carbon powder are soft and not as wear-resistant.
In short, find the right proportion.
Even if you make tires, you have to find tires suitable for gravel roads and tires suitable for dirt roads.
The same goes for the rubber used in bows and arrows.
Only by adjusting the right proportions can you make a perfect compound bow.
Yes.
Modern compound bow.
Compared with traditional bows and arrows, it has higher accuracy and extremely high elasticity.
Of course, there are disadvantages. With traditional bows, you can just draw the bow and shoot the arrow, but with compound bows, you still need to slowly adjust the equipment.
But the compound bow uses the eccentric wheel and lever principle to easily pull a bow with greater force.
With super high accuracy, ordinary people can easily have great bow pulling power.
The former requires specialized training of archers and finding people with sufficient strength to complete the task.
The latter, with just a little training, can be mastered, and can shoot with a range and accuracy that exceeds that of a great man.
An ordinary bow and arrow can shoot more than ten meters away.
The compound bow will double its power, at least fifty meters away.
Compound bows don’t even require a lot of preparation.
All you need is a team to complete a specific task.
If it is done, it will be like the positioning of a sniper rifle on the battlefield.
Ji Yuan picked out what he could say and talked about it. When Wu Ying was stunned, he couldn't help but ask, "How old were you when you were in the prefectural school? You were already thinking about how to improve weapons?!"
Everyone is practicing archery, why are you different!
How can you be the top scholar and improve the bow and arrow at the same time?
"It has been seven or eight years since you started school. The compound bow you have perfected in these seven or eight years is definitely useful!"
Wuying’s words are the key point.
He thought that Ji Yuan had started designing compound bows seven or eight years ago, otherwise how could it be so sophisticated?
Wu Ying held the drawings and praised them highly.
The era is ashamed.
He just had this idea at the time, but at that time, it was difficult to find materials to make an ordinary bow and arrow, let alone a compound bow.
Nowadays, both steel and rubber are relatively complete, and this is the time to make a good compound bow.
"This was not designed by me. I came across it in a book." Ji Yuan said casually.
Anyway, he read a lot of books, from Zhengrong County to Jianmeng Prefecture, then to the capital, Dianzhou Prefecture, and Hexi Prefecture.
I have traveled to so many places and read so many books, so this excuse will not be exposed.
No matter how it was obtained.
Anyway, this blueprint was given to Wuying.
Let Wuying secretly make ten of them.
These ten compound bows can be disassembled at any time. They look like a pile of parts, but when assembled, they become deadly weapons.
A tire in one hand and a compound bow in the other.
It will serve as a life-saving talisman for him in the days to come.
It’s not that Ji Yuan is too timid.
But the wind of the miners' union has been blowing for half a year.
Nowadays the weather is cold and the roads are different, so a lot of news can’t get through.
I’m afraid of the new year.
The faster the information is transmitted between the parties, the greater his danger will be.
For example, the trade union movement.
To what extent will it blow and to what end will it blow?
I'm not sure about Ji Yuan.
In fact, it’s a good thing that it can’t be blown up.
The faster it blows, the deeper the resentment among people, and the faster trade unions are established in various places.
If the wind blows slowly, it means that life is still passable in some places.
News from outside cannot be transmitted for the time being.
But people in Suzhou already knew about the great success of the rubber workshop.
Rubber was successfully extracted from dandelion grass!
They also have rubber available in the northwest!
Although I was mentally prepared, I still couldn't help but get excited when I heard about this.
Good news comes one after another.
The cooked rubber that Ji Yuan mentioned was also made.
It is not affected by hot or cold weather and is even more durable than before.
That is to say.
The era starts from April and ends in the middle of the first lunar month of this year.
Built the first steam engine in Suzhou.
Punch out the rubber.
The rubber has also been upgraded.
Countless people feel that their brains are not enough.
Where does Ji Yuan get so much time!
And before he knew it, all his previous promises were fulfilled one by one.
Wait a minute.
There are also wheat seeds.
All that’s missing is the wheat seeds.
But it takes time to cultivate good varieties.
I heard that they have hundreds of experimental fields, waiting to be inspected one by one in the spring.
"How many brains does Ji Yuan have?"
"Can't you give me one?"
"Half is fine!"
In the first month of this year, the imperial court had not yet decided on the reign title.
But everyone knows what kind of changes Suzhou will usher in in this undetermined spring!
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