Just a few days after the opening of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, the "immersive punch card" of athletes from all over the world was on fire.
Through the lens of these athletes, we saw the smart bed in the Winter Olympic Village where the shape of the mattress can change with remote control, the robot "chef" in the restaurant that can be on standby 24 hours a day, and the "ice and snow socks" that can heat up... No matter which one, you have to exaggerate it: the technology content is too high!
However, to say that the most "real people do not show their faces", we must also look at the torch of the Winter Olympics "flying" - do not be "deceived" by its flowing appearance, the "black technology" inside is definitely called "hardcore"!
When you pick up "Fly"
At the first sight of the torch "flying", it is difficult not to be attracted by its flowing and elegant shape - the ribbon-like shape rotates and rises, showing a flying flame shape at the top; the bright silver shell is a cloud pattern from the bottom up, and then transitions to a paper-cut style snowflake pattern... But when you actually come into contact with the torch "flying", you will find that this seemingly "metallic" shell is not heavy, even if it is outdoors below 0 ° C, the tentacles will not feel cold.
The reason why the torch "flying" has such characteristics is precisely related to the "black technology" used on its shell.
It is said that the shell of the torch "flying" is not made of ordinary metal materials. It is three-dimensionally woven from a high-performance carbon fiber composite material.
The shell created with this technology is not only 20% lighter than the aluminum alloy of the same volume, but also has the characteristics of high strength, corrosion resistance, high temperature resistance, friction resistance, and ultraviolet radiation resistance.
It not only realizes the normal use of the torch shell in a hydrogen combustion environment above 800 °C, but also solves the problems of bubbles and cracking in the preparation process of the torch shell at a high temperature of 1000 °C.
It is based on these that the torch we see now "flying" has been achieved.
It's not easy to build this "flying"
Although the torch "flying" is good, wanting to make such a torch, at first, was a difficult problem.
After the overall shape of "Feiyang" was determined, the task of shell construction was entrusted to the Shanghai Petrochemical Advanced Materials Innovation Research Institute (referred to as the Innovation Research Institute).
According to the design scheme, the overall shell of "Feiyang" is made of carbon fiber material. Because the combustion port of the torch is designed between the inner shell and the housing, this requires that the carbon fiber housing must withstand high temperatures above 800 °C. However, at that time, the maximum temperature that the general resin and carbon fiber composites on the market could withstand was only 200 ° C. Finding a high-temperature resistant housing material is a top priority.
Carbon fiber composite concept drawing
At the beginning, the innovation research institute team first approached a professor at Tsinghua University who studied ceramic materials and wanted to see if the surface of the torch shell could be coated with high-temperature resistant ceramics. However, after several arguments, everyone feels that the shell produced by this is not only not guaranteed to be foolproof, but also does not look good in appearance. It is still best to find the material that meets the requirements directly.
Fortunately, kung fu pays off, and there is really such an enterprise in Jinshan District, Zhenjiang City, Jiangsu Province.
It took them 5 years to develop the third generation of polysilica nitrogen resin. This material is a composite material that combines organic and inorganic and can withstand temperatures up to 1200 °C. Used to make a torch shell, it is more suitable.
However, when the Innovation Research Institute team took the first batch of "Feiyang" to Beijing for acceptance in October 2020, they did not expect that the original "foolproof" went wrong.
After the team ignited the "flying", in less than 1 minute, two flame points appeared on the torch, and a small flame burst on the shell, and there was a phenomenon of blistering and cracking... The degree of embarrassment of the scene can be imagined.
After returning from Beijing, the team immediately made a series of comprehensive analysis of the "flying" torch, and finally judged that during the shell firing process, the molding temperature was not in place to produce thermal expansion and contraction, which led to this "joke".
They extended the firing time from half a day to 1 day, and increased the heating and cooling time, which successfully made a "flying" torch that met the requirements.
Of course, on this "flying" torch, "black technology" is not only the shell.
For example, this "flying" fuel is directly selected from environmentally friendly, pollution-free hydrogen. In order to ensure stable flame combustion and safe decompression of high-pressure hydrogen, the research team has specially developed a hydrogen decompression device that can be embedded in the inside of the torch to ensure that the torch can burn stably at a wind speed of 100 km / h.
At the same time, in order to meet the needs of media shooting, the research team also developed a formula that can adjust the color of hydrogen flames, so that hydrogen flames that were not visible in daylight can also look good during the day.
Winter Olympic torchbearer Li Jiajun
Nowadays, technology empowers sports, which has become a trend.
The combination of the two is bound to bring the audience the dual enjoyment of sports competition and high technology.
The documentary "I Am a Scientific Man" is specially sponsored by Jian Nanchun.