Chapter 227 Means of Combating Nuclear Radiation

Qi Zhongxing admired the young man in front of him.

As a nuclear worker, he knew how dangerous the nuclear thing was.

When he was young, he participated in the manufacture of the two bombs. Mr. Deng, a hero of the two bombs, died of nuclear radiation. Before his death, even his urine had produced extremely strong radioactivity, and he was in great pain.

At that time, Mr. Deng was only exposed to radiation from nuclear bomb fragments that had not yet fully started the chain reaction.

In contrast, the radiation intensity of the spent fuel rods taken out of the nuclear power plant was higher, more than ten times.

To study such an extremely dangerous item, regardless of whether it can be successful, the courage alone is worthy of admiration.

On the side, Xu Chuan didn't think so much.

As for the research and reuse of nuclear waste, this is the work he had completed in his previous life.

To say that there is danger, it is indeed there, but it is not as exaggerated as Qi Zhongxing and others imagined.

Nuclear waste is indeed very polluting, and the strong radiation is also terrible, but there are ways to deal with it.

For example, radiation-proof concrete, lead, steel and other heavy metal materials are used as containers to store nuclear waste or prevent radiation.

For example, the reason why lead can isolate radiation is that it has a tight structure and a high density; it can effectively prevent radiation from passing through, and can well block X-rays and various radioactive rays.

In the hospital, when doctors perform X-ray fluoroscopy, they often have a lead plate on their chest to protect them; people working in atomic reactors often wear large aprons containing lead.

This is the main method currently used by various countries to store nuclear waste or prevent radiation-using the high density of materials to resist strong radiation shock.

In theory, any material with a high density can be used for radiation protection.

For example, osmium metal has a much higher density than lead. Lead is 11.3437 g/cm, and osmium is 22.5, more than twice as high.

Using osmium to make protective clothing is theoretically better than lead, but correspondingly, such a set of protective clothing may weigh several tons to wear.

In addition, osmium is much more expensive than lead, which makes it unsuitable for use as a radiation protection material.

In contrast, lead, which is cheap and effective, can be bought for a few dollars per kilogram, is undoubtedly more suitable.

But correspondingly, traditional lead materials also have their own shortcomings when dealing with nuclear radiation.

For example, the current lead shielding materials are difficult to wrap, the exposure dose of operators is high, and the safety quality and effect of shielding are difficult to guarantee.

These shortcomings make it difficult for lead materials to perfectly deal with the impact of nuclear radiation.

In this traditional confrontation idea, Xu Chuan adjusted the idea of ​​dealing with radiation impact.

He no longer considered using traditional high-density materials to deal with radiation impact, but turned his attention to other fields.

The reason why nuclear radiation is so terrible is that it can cause ionization or excitation of matter.

In the final analysis, nuclear radiation is a high-energy microscopic particle flow released during the transformation of the atomic nucleus from one structure or one energy state to another structure or another energy state.

These high-energy particles have extremely strong penetrating power. After the lattice atoms of the nuclear structure material are hit by them, the atoms hit will be dislocated, and the original lattice point position will become a vacancy.

Due to the existence of these large number of irradiation defects, when nuclear energy materials are plastically deformed by external loads, the movement of their internal dislocations will be affected by the defects caused by irradiation, thereby changing their mechanical properties to a large extent.

For example, hardening, embrittlement, creep, fatigue, etc.

This is the so-called material irradiation effect, which is also the main reason why nuclear waste is difficult to handle at present.

Because there is no material that can resist high-intensity radiation spent fuel for a long time.

For the human body, the tiny high-energy particles in nuclear radiation are like bullets. When they hit the human body, they will act on human DNA, break the DNA chain, and physiologically terminate the metabolism of normal cells.

For the human body, cells also need metabolism. Old cells die, and the human body replicates new cells based on DNA. However, after nuclear radiation, DNA is broken, and normal new cells cannot be created.

The specific manifestation is bleeding and disability of various organs in the body, and then people fart.

The terrible thing about nuclear radiation is here. It is like a sharp scalpel that can disassemble materials at the atomic level.

Lead can resist radiation because of its high density. It can block most microscopic particles and will not be disassembled in a short time.

In addition to this method, are there other means to fight against the scalpel of nuclear radiation?

Yes!

For example, the "atomic cycle" technology!

This is a new method that Xu Chuan found in his previous life after nearly three years.

The harm of nuclear radiation lies in its super strong ionization ability, which can destroy the grain boundaries and structures of traditional materials, causing the materials to become brittle, weakened and lose their properties.

But what if there is a material whose grain boundary structure repair speed can keep up with the ionization ability of nuclear radiation?

Does it mean that it can perfectly intercept nuclear radiation?

And the "atomic cycle technology" is based on such a theory.

In past research work, Xu Chuan found a material--"crystalline erbium zirconate".

This material can adapt to this theory almost perfectly.

It can not only withstand the strong attack of radiation, but also quickly complete self-repair after the grain boundary is ionized and re-condense into a stable grain boundary structure.

Erbium zirconate and erbium titanate, the main materials that constitute the 'crystalline erbium zirconate', can resist radiation for a long time through the continuous movement of atoms inside the material.

Ceramics made of this material can preserve nuclear waste for a long time, at least more than 100,000 years.

Later, Xu Chuan followed this route and developed a series of radiation-resistant materials to deal with nuclear radiation.

This is the basis of the technology of nuclear energy β radiation energy aggregation and conversion into electrical energy mechanism.

With these technologies and materials, Xu Chuan dared to face nuclear waste directly and directly turned the originally extremely dangerous nuclear waste into a paper tiger.

After staying at the construction site for a few days and discussing with Chief Engineer Qi to determine some of the functions and styles of the institute, Xu Chuan returned to Jinling.

The institute was under construction, and the first batch of ten scientific researchers recruited were familiar with the paper 'Nuclear energy β radiation energy aggregation and conversion into electrical energy mechanism'.

In the next month, he had time to do his own things.

In Chen Zhengping's office at Nanjing University, Xu Chuan was flipping through two documents in his hands.

On the other side, Chen Zhengping introduced with hot tea: "I have found the research institute you want."

"However, due to your limited budget and not all research institutes are willing to sell, I can't find many research institutes here."

"After selection, the two you have are more suitable."

"The first research institute is called 'Zijin Composite Materials Research Laboratory'. It is relatively small, covering an area of ​​about 50 acres, and there are not many scientific researchers, currently less than 20. However, it has the research qualifications for carbon materials and polymer energy membrane materials, and also has some equipment. The price is 13 million."

"The second one is called 'Advanced Polymer Materials Research Institute', which is larger, covering an area of ​​about 100 acres, and has nearly 40 doctoral and master's students. It is mainly engaged in the synthesis, application research and development and product development of polymer energy membrane materials."

"However, it lacks research capabilities in the field of carbon materials, mainly because it does not have talents and complete equipment in this field, but it has qualifications. The price is 21 million."

"You can take a look at these two research institutes. If they are not suitable, I will look for them again."

In order to find a suitable research institute, Chen Zhengping can be said to have taken great pains.

During this period, he read the information of more than two dozen research institutes, and finally picked out these two from them.

As an academician, he usually presided over research projects worth tens of millions of yuan, but he personally selected the materials research institute that could be purchased with 20 million yuan of funds. To do this, it can only be said that there is nothing else except love.

After carefully reading the two documents in his hand, Xu Chuan said, "Let's just call it the first 'Zijin Composite Materials Research Laboratory'. It doesn't matter if the institute is small, as long as it has complete qualifications and equipment."

Chen Zhengping nodded and said, "Okay, then I'll arrange Fan Pengyue to help you deal with this matter. Let's talk about the price. It should be able to be lowered a little bit."

Hearing this, Xu Chuan's heart moved and asked, "Is Senior Brother Fan still in Nanjing University?"

Chen Zhengping said, "He is now a postdoctoral student and will soon be promoted to assistant. What, do you have any ideas?"

Xu Chuan laughed and said, "I have other things on my hands, and I may not have much time to manage my own institute."

Chen Zhengping's eyelids twitched. At first, he thought Xu Chuan wanted to poach Fan Pengyue to his institute. Unexpectedly, he guessed that he was poaching, but the position was completely wrong.

He thought it was a researcher, at best a formal researcher, but it turned out to be a manager.

The gap between the two is huge.

If a scientific researcher takes the management route to advance, he will not be able to sit in the position of supervisor without ten or eight years.

This is still a small or medium-sized research institute. If it is a large research institute or a scientific research institution with a national background, it will take longer.

Now Xu Chuan poached Fan Pengyue and started directly as a supervisor or even higher, which saved him at least eight years.

Although Fan Pengyue is currently doing postdoctoral research with him, he can get access to a lot of scientific research resources and projects.

But it is not bad to follow Xu Chuan.

As the first Chinese Fields Medal winner, Xu Chuan can definitely get no less resources, scientific research funds and scientific research projects than him as an academician.

In contrast, one is a postdoctoral fellow and it will take a long time to be promoted to professor; the other is managing a research institute, which can be said to be a step to heaven.

Everyone knows which one to choose.

But can Fan Pengyue support this burden?

Chen Zhengping didn't think about whether to let him go or not. He considered whether Fan Pengyue's ability could help Xu Chuan support this research institute.

Compared with Fan Pengyue, who is now 30 years old and still doing postdoctoral research, Chen Zhengping undoubtedly values ​​and likes Xu Chuan more, and he also helps Xu Chuan with all his strength.

With this idea, he raised a question.

Xu Chuan smiled and said, "Senior Brother Fan is quite good. I have learned a lot from you. Besides, he has helped you manage many of your projects over the years. I believe in his ability."

After a pause, he continued: "It's just that the research institute here is not big. The total assets of 20 million are not enough to mentor you for a scientific research project. I hope Senior Brother Fan won't dislike me for being the research institute here. Just be small.”

Chen Zhengping thought for a while and said, "In this case, I'll give him a call and ask him to come over."

Xu Chuan was not polite and said with a smile, "Sorry to trouble you, teacher."

He has almost reached the ultimate level of squeezing his mentor's wool.

Not only was Chen Zhengping helping to find the research institute, but the managers also had to dig under him.

If it had been anyone else, he would have been kicked out with a broom.

After receiving Chen Zhengping's call, Fan Peng rushed over in a hurry.

"Junior brother, you are back!"

In the office, Fan Pengyue saw Xu Chuan beside him and greeted him in surprise.

Xu Chuan looked up and down at Fan Pengyue's growing figure, and said with a smile: "Master Xiong seems to be living a good life these past two years."

On the side, Chen Zhengping also smiled and said: "This guy looks more and more like a bear. If he grows more meat, he will really become a bear."

Hearing this, Fan Pengyue smiled and scratched his head.

Speaking of body shape, he has indeed gained a lot of weight recently. When he reaches thirty, he can't help himself.

But for a Northeastern man, isn't it normal for him to be a bit stronger?

After smiling and joking for a few words, Xu Chuan turned to the topic and expressed his thoughts.

Hearing Xu Chuan's invitation, Fan Pengyue was surprised at first, then surprised, and then confused.

He glanced at Xu Chuan, then at Chen Zhengping, and replied carefully: "Well, junior brother, I am still working as a postdoctoral fellow with my mentor, and I have directly taken over the management of a research institute. I am afraid I do not have such ability."

Speaking of being moved, no one would not be moved by the conditions proposed by Xu Chuan.

Although the research institute is small, it is well-equipped.

On the one hand, it will take several years to be promoted to a professor at Nanjing University, but on the other hand, it will directly reach the pinnacle of life. No one will be tempted.

But in front of his mentor, Fan Pengyue didn't hesitate to agree directly. After all, Chen Zhengping treated him very well.

Xu Chuan smiled and said: "I just made an agreement with the teacher. Although it is not good to poach my own teacher, I lack a trustworthy person to help. I have no choice but to ask the teacher to borrow someone."

Chen Zhengping glanced at Xu Chuan and said, "You don't have to think too much about me. This is a good opportunity for you. It's better to follow Xu Chuan than to follow me."

Hearing this, Fan Pengyue took a deep breath and made up his mind: "In that case, let me give it a try."

Xu Chuan smiled and said: "Welcome to join Senior Brother Fan~"

After a pause, he then looked at Chen Zhengping and said shamelessly: "Teacher, I would also like to ask you to be a consultant in the research institute. I don't know if that would be convenient."

Chen Zhengping glanced at Xu Chuan angrily and said, "You kid, isn't it enough to poach Fan Pengyue? Are you even planning on me?"

Xu Chuan chuckled and said, "I'm just getting started in materials science, and there's still a lot I don't understand. Teacher, you can ask me to be a consultant, and I can continue to learn with you and be your student."