Great Power Industry: You're a private company building an aircraft carrier?

In later generations, the problem of steel for ballpoint pen tips alarmed the higher-ups, who then asked: Can we forge a batch?

It is possible to refine it, but the market is too small, so there is no need for it.

No, we have to train! This is a political task! Don't you see those public intellectuals and their lackeys, nagging all day long? It's so annoying!

Taiyuan Iron & Steel Group (TISCO) took on the task. After repeated trials, they finally solved various process problems. Each furnace produced 60 tons, and the annual demand was only a dozen or so furnaces. However, the production line could not be stopped, so they had no choice but to export large quantities of the product.

How much do they sell for abroad? 120,000 per ton? Then we'll sell them for 60,000!

The Swiss company Mikron has been making this thing since 1888. They could have rested on their ancestral technology and been sleeping soundly, but they were ruined by the hype of those public intellectuals. I don't know how many small companies are worried. Don't tell us that our company is so advanced that Easterners can't make it, otherwise we won't be able to lie low and sleep soundly!

Actually, Taiyuan Iron & Steel Group wasn't the only one researching this back then; other steel mills also did it. However, the market was too small, so there was no need for everyone to rush into it. Qin Chuan also researched it back then, and they even used the same alloy steel used in the Russian AK-27.

Who says you can only use tungsten carbide and stainless steel? The Russian nickel-chromium alloy steel also performs quite well!

Even if this thing is covered in rust on the surface, you can just wipe it off and the bottom will still be shiny and hard and sturdy!

However, there are some differences between building an aircraft carrier's take-off and landing deck and building a ballpoint pen tip. The former requires remelting and refining, and also requires the addition of other raw materials.

Of course, Qin Chuan didn't specifically research it back then. He obtained it by chance while researching alloy steel. After testing, he found that it was unqualified to be used as steel for a certain project, but it was perfect as steel for ballpoint pen tips.

However, Taiyuan Iron & Steel Group had already built it by then, so there was no need to join in the fun.

Even if this batch of aircraft carrier alloy steel cannot be used to make new aircraft carrier steel plates, it can still be used for other purposes!

A price of three thousand US dollars per ton is not high at all. This is not scrap steel, it is a treasure!

Ishino Hirotoshi had originally said that he would only be there for half an hour and had other tasks, but now he said nothing and followed along to the steelmaking workshop.

Along the way, he saw mountains of scrap steel, his eyes filled with anticipation.

"Master Wang, Master Zhao, come here for a moment and clean this steelmaking furnace! Brother Zhang, Brother Liu, polish off the rust on the surface of the scrap steel!"

Qin Chuan made the arrangements.

"You're going to use this scrap steel to make ballpoint pen tip steel?" Hirotoshi Ishino asked in surprise.

"Yes, this scrap steel is very useful. Selling it to you for three thousand dollars a ton is absolutely worth it!"

In later generations, the East became the world's largest producer of steel, but its main output was crude steel, which was highly polluting and energy-intensive. Companies in island nations and other countries simply imported crude steel directly from the East, smelted it into high-value-added steel products, and then sold it back to the East, making huge profits.

Ishino Hirotomi had his eye on these scrap steels, intending to buy them and smelt them into high-performance steel. However, he hadn't yet figured out the specific smelting method, as they had no prior experience with it.

Qin Chuan wanted to show them his skills and demonstrate the usefulness of these steel materials.

The smelting of high-performance steel requires very high standards for its composition; even a slight introduction of impurities can alter the properties of the steel.

Therefore, the steelmaking furnace also needs to be thoroughly cleaned.

"Xiao Chuan, the thermocouple here is broken!" Master Zhao discovered the problem while cleaning the steel furnace and ran over to tell Qin Chuan in a low voice.

We absolutely cannot let foreigners hear this. That little devil has always been arrogant, and that translator is even more of a bully. We can't let them laugh at us.

The temperature of a steelmaking furnace needs to be displayed, which is usually done using platinum-rhodium thermocouples. However, due to the high temperature, high pressure, and harmful media conditions, the thermocouple wires quickly become brittle and break, typically with a lifespan of only three months.

Now, the furnace has been unused for several months, and the thermocouples inside have long been overloaded.

Qin Chuan answered softly, "Just fold this silk thread in half and it will be usable."

Fold in half?

That's right, you can fold it in half from the broken part and still use it, but the temperature measurement won't be accurate, right?

"This stuff is expensive, we need to be careful with it. As for the temperature..." Qin Chuan glanced at the customer who was watching the rust being polished, and didn't continue.

Master Zhao immediately understood: The people who came here definitely want to watch in person, otherwise they will say that we are cheating. But how can we prevent them from learning the craft?

The thermocouples are no longer accurate. If they note down the current temperature and try to go back, they will definitely fail!

As for Ogawa... since he asked you to fold it in half, you should know the corresponding temperature relationship after folding, right?

Thermocouples measure temperature by utilizing the difference in electromotive force caused by the different temperatures at the two ends of the thermocouple wire. The relationship between temperature and electromotive force is functional, not linear.

As for Qin Chuan, he only knew the specific values ​​after folding, but that was enough.

Platinum and rhodium are both precious metals. In his previous life, he had to use them sparingly when he was working. Folding them in half before using them was a way to save money. As long as he knew the corresponding values ​​of the displayed temperature and the actual temperature after folding them in half, that would be enough.

Qin Chuan's gaze then turned to the scales in the distance.

Two hours later.

All the scrap steel was loaded into the steelmaking furnace. Laiyang Factory was a small factory, and each furnace could only produce twenty tons.

At this moment, watching those precious deck steel pieces being stuffed in, Ishino Hirotoshi felt a pang of heartache, but also a sense of anticipation.

"Mr. Qin, can you really make pen nib steel just by melting down this steel?"

"Of course not." Qin Chuan shook his head: "We also need to add some rare metals to adjust the internal composition."

"So, what needs to be added?"

"Of course it's a secret. You want to know?"

"Qin Chuan, explain your production process so that Mr. Shi Ye can give you some pointers and point out any oversights or areas for improvement."

Pan Yang resumed his previous expression, adopting an arrogant demeanor: "We Easterners are known for our hospitality, don't embarrass our people!"

Qin Chuan sighed.

Countless advanced technologies have been ruined by these people.

Back then, our lithography machine was not outdated. After it was developed, we held an exhibition. Foreigners came, climbing up and down, asking all sorts of questions. We answered them all without reservation. As a result, the advanced technology was learned by the foreigners!

It was one thing in the past, as those people didn't have much awareness of intellectual property rights, but to still think like that now is either stupid or malicious.

"A sheepdog is a sheepdog. You're the one who's truly shameful!"

Qin Chuan shook his head: "I was originally planning to tell Mr. Ishino, but after you said that, I changed my mind. Mr. Ishino, if you want to know, then you'll have to pay $100,000!"