The Prodigal Son of the Empire

Waiting is boring, so another hour has passed (Note, an hour in ancient times is two hours.) The pipe extending from the stove finally has hot molten iron flowing out...

This?

Seeing this scene, it was difficult for Li Zheng and others to remain calm...

[Author's digression]: Third watch, there will be more next time, the silver votes will be cast, and the party will pay attention to the lightness of the party

2 Chapter [-] The Method of Frying Steel

The hot and red molten iron flowed out, which immediately surprised everyone, even the craftsmen working here.

They have all been engaged in iron smelting for many years, and it is rare that they can be directly smelted into molten iron.

"In such a short time?" Li Zheng asked in surprise.

"Have you noticed that the molten iron flowing out is very clean, and it doesn't seem to be contaminated with too many impurities." Master Xi said in surprise after looking closer.

Wang Kang, who was on the side, smiled and remained silent. Naturally, it was because of the unique design of the hearth that he could do so.

In the construction of this hearth furnace, Wang Kang largely participated in the design of the modern horizontal rotary steelmaking furnace.

During the iron ore smelting process, the fuel slag or residue after ironmaking and molten iron will be separated and filtered, and the molten iron will gradually infiltrate into a special container.

Then it flows into the extended diameter pipe and leads to another furnace, thus forming a completed production line.

Master Xi said: "Master Kang, you can smelt iron ore to such a degree that when the molten iron solidifies, it is already a high-quality iron embryo. If it is hammered and hammered, the quality will be even better!"

He was in charge of iron smelting in the Smelting Bureau, so he naturally understood this truth.

Wang Kang shook his head: "This is not enough!"

If it is true as Master Xi said, steel can indeed be obtained, but it is too wasteful of manpower and time.

The essential difference between steel and iron is actually the difference in carbon content. Iron with a carbon content of more than 2% is called pig iron; iron with a carbon content lower than 005% is called wrought iron; the carbon content is 005%-2%. The iron in it is called steel.

For example, after the molten iron smelted solidifies, it becomes pig iron. The carbon content of pig iron exceeds the standard, so it needs to continue refining.

Several people continued to watch. At this moment, the molten iron had flowed to another furnace, which was different from the previous one.

Because there is no layered structure inside this hearth furnace, the inside is similar to a closed cylinder.

At this moment, the fire in the hearth has long been lit, and after such a long time of smoldering, the temperature is already extremely high.

At this time, a craftsman poured iron powder from the opening on one side of the hearth.

Seeing this scene, Li Zheng was startled, and hurriedly said: "You have already smelted iron to such an extent, why do you need to add iron powder?"

"Isn't this superfluous? Will the original smelting be destroyed?"

"Master Kang, this is a failure, let them stop!" Master Xi also hurriedly said, they couldn't understand at all.

Hearing this, Wang Kang said indifferently: "After the first smelting, it can be called pig iron. Pig iron has a high carbon content, so it needs a second smelting."

"What carbon content? What is this?" Li Zheng and the others were a little confused.

"Carbon content is a criterion for judging the material produced." Wang Kang said.

But this made them even more confused.

Wang Kang slapped his forehead, "You guys should watch it first, and I will explain it to you later."

At this moment, the dumping of the iron powder has ended, and because the work is close to the furnace, the craftsmen are sweating...

"What is that doing again?"

Wang Fuchen pointed to the hearth, where a craftsman was repeatedly turning a rocker arm, which seemed to be extending from the hearth.

"This is for stirring." Wang Kang explained.

"Stir what?" Master Xi asked, what they saw today really made them very confused.

They couldn't understand Wang Kang's every step. You must know that the three of them are all veteran craftsmen of the Metallurgical Bureau, and they are all experts in the field of iron smelting.

At this moment, they were asking Wang Kang about things, which they didn't even notice.

Wang Kang explained: "Add iron ore powder and keep stirring at the same time, use the oxygen in the air to remove part of the carbon in the pig iron, so that the carbon content in the pig iron will be reduced!"

"The reason for high-temperature smelting is to remove the slag in it, so that steel can be obtained directly!"

Wang Kang said in a deep voice: "I call this method of steelmaking the method of frying steel!"

It has to be said that the working people in ancient times were great, and iron and steel smelting has always been in the leading position in the world. The general development process has gone through several stages.

The earliest method used was the pouring steel method.

Then there is the block smelting method, which is to smelt iron ore into a spongy solid block.

Because the refining is rough, the texture is soft, and it contains a lot of dross, so it needs to be forged. Simply put, it is burning, burning, beating, beating, burning, and so on...

Thereby, the content of the carbon component is increased, and the distribution is uniform, and the steel is forged.

This is also the origin of a hundred tempered steel!

In this era like Wang Kang's, this method is generally used, but they have not yet realized the existence of steel.

Master Xi has purified the quality of the iron embryo, so it should be like this.

Wang Kang used a more advanced method, the fried steel method, which first appeared in the middle and late Western Han Dynasty. The invention of this technology was a major breakthrough in steelmaking technology.

Combined with the current conditions and environment, it was adopted by Wang Kang, but Wang Kang also combined some knowledge from his previous life in the process, such as the construction of the hearth...

"Steel frying method?" Several people were stunned.

"Is steel the material you mentioned that is harder than iron?" Li Zheng asked.

"Correct!"

The questioning of several people interrupted Wang Kang's thoughts.

Master Xi took a deep breath, "Then we will wait and see, if you can really succeed, it is really a pioneering work!"

At this moment, their doubts have also been greatly reduced, because Wang Kang's new refining method and many unheard of theories make them unconvinced.

Iron powder and molten iron are fused and infiltrated during stirring. This process is equally important, and the time and temperature must be well controlled.

If the carbon content increases, it will have no effect. If it exceeds, it will become wrought iron, which is equivalent to being useless.

However, Wang Kang had already thought about this problem beforehand, and the ratio of iron ore powder to molten iron was just right!