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Chapter 1834 Uses of Aluminum Alloys

"Can adding other metal elements to aluminum increase the strength of the metal?" Li Yinger tried to move the aluminum alloy block, and found that it was not as heavy as the iron block as imagined.

"This is determined by the physical properties of the alloy. Steel is an iron alloy, and its use may be wider than pure iron." Chen Yuanyuan said, "The density of water is 1, the density of aluminum is 2.7, and the density of iron is 7.9. As long as the strength of aluminum alloy reaches the strength of steel and is lighter than steel, it will have a quality advantage. Maybe it can replace steel in some fields and become a new material. Its value should be able to make up for the cost of research. .”

Li Yinger's eyes brightened: "Aluminum alloy can replace the use of steel in some fields? If it is really possible to partially replace steel, I think this must be a huge market."

Coal and steel are the raw materials that most industries rely on at present. If there is a new metal material to choose from, and its performance can even exceed steel in some aspects, its value is self-evident.

"Is the cost of obtaining aluminum more expensive than steel?" Li Yinger confirmed to Chen Yuanyuan again.

"We use electrolytic aluminum technology, which requires a lot of electricity. Aluminum alloys also use other rare metals. The price of aluminum alloys must be much higher than that of iron. Unless we find a method that is simpler than blast furnace ironmaking to extract metals Aluminum, otherwise it will be difficult to reduce the price of metal aluminum." Chen Yuanyuan said.

"If the aluminum alloy is expensive, I'm afraid its use will be limited. I don't know what industrial machines it can be used for because of its lightness..." Li Yinger put the aluminum alloy down.

The biggest advantage of aluminum alloy is light weight and high strength, but the disadvantage is that the production cost is still higher than that of steel by using a method called "electrolytic aluminum", especially the finished products of aluminum alloy, which may be more expensive.

"Our Imperial Chemicals rarely produce metal products, and it is difficult to find their uses. But I think, if we release the news that there is such a metal material, those factories that are researching steam engines or other metals should take the initiative to find it." Chen Yuanyuan said.

"Sister, you are right. We can't think of a suitable use for it for a while, but it doesn't mean that other people can't think of it. As long as it is really valuable goods, we will definitely be able to find someone who knows the goods." Li Yinger said, "By the way, electrolytic aluminum The technology is to extract metal aluminum?"

"We conducted electrolysis experiments on alumina melted in cryolite, and at the same time added a small amount of calcium chloride to lower the melting point of cryolite, and finally produced aluminum with a purity of more than 98%. The so-called electrolysis is to pass the current through the molten electrolyte , causing redox reactions on the cathode and anode... This is the field of electrochemistry." Chen Yuanyuan said.

Li Yinger had a hard time hearing it. After all, she has already involved in the professional field. People who are not in this field don't even know what cryolite is, and it is impossible to think of using cryolite-based fluoride melt as a solvent to produce metal aluminum. Methods.

"I don't know anything about electrochemistry." Li Yinger smiled bitterly. Her father's career is very difficult, and the industry barriers are extremely high. Otherwise, Imperial Chemicals would not have the scale it is now.

Except for government-run chemical plants and smelters with such technology, there are very few folk factories or workshops that can carry out vigorous research and development. The folks are mainly concentrated in industries with relatively mature technologies such as textiles, ceramics, sencha, planting, and sailing.

When Li Yinger, Chen Yuanyuan and several people in the laboratory were talking, a middle-aged man came in, his temples were slightly graying.

Seeing him appear, Li Yinger's eyes were full of surprise: "Father, you are back!"

"Haha, I didn't expect you to be here. It seems that you might be able to inherit our Imperial Chemical industry in the future." Li Jinde showed a doting look.

This daughter is also quite interested in doing business, so she is not sure what she will do.

"I received a report that your team found a way to produce a large amount of metal aluminum, and also discovered an aluminum alloy with high strength and strong ductility." Li Jinde said to Chen Yuanyuan again.

"Yes, the relative density of aluminum alloy is much smaller than that of steel, so it should become an important metal material."

Chen Yuanyuan told Li Jinde about their findings again according to the previous explanation to Li Yinger.

Li Jinde's knowledge is obviously higher than that of Li Yinger. He had the opportunity to visit government-run factories, and even went to the School of Chemistry of the Beijing Normal University to listen in, so he knew what Chen Yuanyuan meant.

"It's a pity that the cost is still relatively expensive, otherwise the effect will be wider. But I think I should know its use." Li Jinde is well-informed, and when he learned that there is such a material, he could quickly think of the application of aluminum alloy. place.

"Where?" Li Yinger couldn't help being surprised.

Li Jinde pointed to the sky: "Do you still remember that the government has a machine that can fly into the air? I heard that the lighter the machine, the better, so the material is still mainly wood with a small amount of steel. If you use this light Aluminum alloy, then maybe it can replace wood and provide a better choice for the government to manufacture aircraft."

Aluminum alloy, this advanced metal material, is very important in the aviation field.

Not many people know how important aluminum alloy is to aircraft, and the aviation field can easily accept expensive aluminum alloy.

"Airplane?!" Both Chen Yuanyuan and Li Yinger knew that there was such a thing as an airplane.

The appearance of aircraft is not enough to surprise them, because sometimes there are even manned hot air balloons over the capital.

"According to regulations, these patents should be owned by the factory, but I will give your team a generous salary. Let me think about it, 10 taels of silver, and everyone's salary will be increased by 10%." Li Jinde said casually, and took [-] taels of silver was paid out.

Before electrolytic aluminum and aluminum alloys brought any benefits, Li Jinde's approach was not unreasonable.

The members of Chen Yuanyuan's team were all very excited. Their team size is small, and each person can get tens of thousands of taels of silver on average!
1 taels of silver is a huge fortune.

"Father, are you going to sell the aluminum alloy to the government?" Li Yinger knew that Li Jinde wanted to monopolize the production technology of aluminum alloy, and the money he would earn in the future would definitely be more than 10 taels of silver.

"No and no." Li Jinde shook his head lightly, "I want to give this technology to the government."

"Huh?!" Li Yinger, Chen Yuanyuan and others were deeply incredulous. As a businessman, Li Jinde actually planned to directly give the aluminum alloy technology to the government instead of monopolizing the production of goods by himself.

"This is the dowry for my daughter when she gets married." Li Jinde said.

(End of this chapter)