‘Gift from heaven’: China astronauts develop super niobium alloy for aerospace
An experiment conducted in space has helped Chinese scientists do the impossible – and it could revolutionise aerospace technology.
https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/china-develops-niobium-alloy-hypersonic-flight
The US has imposed sanctions on Chinese universities like Northwestern Polytechnical University, hindering their research. This university is accelerating the research on advanced tech like hypersonic aircraft. This has led to increased Chinese government and military support, enabling Wei’s team to conduct experiments on the Chinese space station since 2021.
The microgravity environment of space alters the behavior of materials compared to Earth, where gravity plays a dominant role. In the absence of gravity, processes like crystal growth and solidification occur differently. The microgravity experiments led to the observation of several unique phenomena. During the rapid solidification of the niobium-silicon alloy, a distinctive shrinkage pore structure formed in the microgravity environment — unlike what is typically observed on Earth. The crystal growth patterns observed in space were different from those observed in ground-based experiments. This extensive research and understanding led to the development of niobium-silicon alloy.
The researchers called it a “gift from heaven.”
They developed a rapid cooling method that enables the production of high-quality niobium-silicon crystals at a speed of nearly 3.5 inch (9 centimeters) per second. This dramatically reduces the production time compared to traditional methods.
The team also incorporated a small amount of hafnium into the alloy to enhance the crystals’ strength. This increased its strength at room temperature by over three times. This improvement addresses the brittleness issue and makes the alloy suitable for use in demanding engine manufacturing processes.
This feels like a scene at the start of a mecha anime.
Hampering your technological development because of racism and cold war anti-communist idiocy.
Interesting! I found a little more explanation of the science and uses here
As someone from the country who owns 90% of global niobium reserves, very interesting...
USA getting ready to Lava Jato 2
Which manufacturers in China have the most advanced engines right now? My only knowledge is about Siemens and GE engines. Have these been beaten?
I'm guessing AECC would be the main engine manufacturer in China.
