However, this time-traveling artifact still has some shortcomings. The glass contains a large number of fine bubbles, which are densely packed. Although it does not affect the use, it seriously affects the appearance.
In fact, truly colorless, transparent glass products did not exist in any time and space in the 17th century. Color casts and bubbles were common phenomena in early glass products. Even modern glass products are not absolutely incompatible.
It contains bubbles, but the amount is so small that it is difficult to detect. For those who are accustomed to the crystal clear and transparent modern glassware, the raw materials in front of them are still a bit rough.
So the next step of the work turned to the work of removing bubbles. Removing bubbles is called "clarification" in the glass industry. Some people vaguely remember that clarification requires adding a clarification agent. But no one
Know what the specific clarifying agent is.
In addition, remember that stirring is also a process for removing bubbles, and the two may be used in combination.
People vaguely remember that arsenic seems to be a clarifier. This highly toxic drug is difficult to obtain at any time and space. Fortunately, Guo Yi had already purchased all the arsenic in Guangzhou City in accordance with the requirements of the agricultural department - Wu
Nanhai originally planned to use it for soaking seeds.
The so-called arsenic clarification is to add arsenic to the glass liquid. When the arsenic enters the glass liquid, steam is generated due to the high temperature. These arsenic vapors exist in the form of large bubbles in the glass slurry. The large bubbles are in the process of stirring the glass slurry.
It will gradually absorb the small bubbles scattered around and eventually take away the small bubbles.
This method is indeed feasible, but arsenic is added to the hot glass liquid and sublimates into highly toxic arsenic vapor. The pollution during the process is really terrible. The glass research team received several masks and gas masks and began the first
One test.
After the glass liquid melted, the glaziers first threw some ground saltpeter into the crucible for decolorization. Then they began to stir the glass slurry continuously. The crucible had a lid, and the stirring steel drill could only
It is very laborious to do it through the hole in the lid, and you will be tired and sweating profusely after a while. Every time you stir for an hour, put some arsenic in it, and continue to stir at the same time.
The final glass obtained was quite clear, but the consumption of raw materials was shocking - almost a kilogram of arsenic was used.
For one kilogram of arsenic, there is not even five or six kilograms of arsenic in all pharmacies in Guangzhou. According to this production efficiency, they have to establish an arsenic industry to support the large-scale production of the glass industry.
Obviously this method is extremely uneconomical. After everyone worked together to come up with ideas, someone came up with a clarification method that I read in novels in the past: the forced boiling method of water-soaked wood. - Use a steel drill to forcefully insert the water-soaked wood into the glass liquid to make it
Boil, taking away the bubbles.
This so-called soaked wood is easier to find than arsenic. There are a lot of soaked wood on the shore of Bopu, so hurry up and find some. Use a steel drill to poke it and press hard into the liquid glass.
According to those present, the situation was like setting off fireworks. The red-hot liquid glass suddenly exploded and sprayed everywhere. Fortunately, everyone present was wearing steel workers' asbestos protective clothing, otherwise someone would have been hospitalized.
.
The person who made this suggestion was criticized by everyone for half an hour. Of course he was very aggrieved - he did not make this up. However, the production process cannot be imitated by just a simple description. Since there is no information to explain in detail what this process is.
How to operate, we can only temporarily stop and continue testing.
After going through this process several times, someone finally found a glass manufacturing manual from the Chaoxing e-book in the "Big Library" and found out how to remove bubbles: First, add a clarifying agent - arsenic is indeed possible.
In fact, table salt can also be used, just add it and mix it together.
Stirring is not just about holding a steel drill to stir. Instead, a stirrer must be placed in the glass crucible. This is a hollow cylinder made of refractory clay and operated with a steel drill with a hook.
Move in the glass liquid. As long as the stirring time is long enough, not only will most of the bubbles disappear, but all stripes and stones in the glass liquid will eventually disappear, and the glass liquid will become completely symmetrical and transparent - early optical glass is
This method is used to manufacture commercial grade glassware.
Sure enough, after following this operation method and taking out the crucible again, the bubbles in the glass liquid almost completely disappeared. The viscosity of the entire glass liquid was also reduced, and the glass liquid became very even and flowed smoothly. This kind of glass can even be used
Materials for making less demanding optical instruments - such as glasses.
Years ago, the research team solved the two major technical difficulties of glass decolorization and clarification. Encouraged by the success, the team members agreed not to take a break during the Chinese New Year to continue to research the manufacturing of glassware and contribute to the early realization of the Ming Dynasty in glassware production.
.
When Wen Desi walked into the steaming glass factory shed, he found that most people were squatting listlessly outside the shed fanning themselves. The glass furnace was still emitting overwhelming heat. The temperature in the shed was as high as thirty-seven or eight degrees.
It was hot. I was sweating profusely after a while. A big basket in the middle of the floor was filled with smashed glass pieces. There were strange-shaped glassware everywhere on the floor and on the operating table. Some of them could barely be seen to be cups.
Or a bottle.
Ji Situi told him listlessly that the trial production of glassware was completely unsuccessful - no one had the ability to blow out a suitable shape. These amateur glassmakers had been diligently practicing their glassblowing skills since early in the morning.
I couldn't find any information on how to blow glass. The only clue was a documentary about handmade glass production. The workers on TV blew whatever they wanted, but they couldn't get the point at all. Don't talk about glass, glass
Bowls, bottles and other utensils, not even a few utensils, were made. From early morning on the first day of the new year to now, there have been several baskets of broken things.
"Mr. Wen, this is not going to be easy." Ji Sidui's forehead was covered with sweat. There was a blazing fire here, and the inability to produce qualified glassware made the leader of the chemical engineering team very anxious.
"Don't be anxious. The Planning Commission still has a lot of glassware in stock, which can last for a period of time." Wen Desi was more anxious than he was, but he still pretended to be calm and comforted him.
"It depends on how hard it is to shoulder the burden." Ji Wusheng said in Shanghainese, "It's our turn and we can't handle it no matter what."
"There's no other way. Just keep trying. Practice makes perfect." Wen Desi didn't have much else to say - he was also very new to this industry.
A group of people were sighing when Li Mei came outside. As soon as he entered the door, he greeted everyone with a smile and gave them New Year greetings. He also distributed many small bamboo baskets to everyone - filled with betel nut. Wen Desi knew this woman's welfare.
Since the company organized its own supply of betel nuts, it has been selling this stuff that makes your mouth turn red when chewed all day long.
In fact, Li Mei's intention does not stop there. She is very well-informed. News of the trial production of glass by the industrial department reached her ears very early. This is nothing short of exciting for Li Mei, who is considering increasing the variety of welfare cooperatives every day.
Agent - glass! If we can ship in batches, we will be prosperous! Then she has been planning to go to the glass factory to see if she can build a relationship with the factory director. The custom of New Year greetings on the first day of the Lunar New Year gave her a very
Good opportunity.
"It's a new year, why are everyone looking like this?" Li Mei soon noticed that the atmosphere was strange.
"Is it possible to get better?" Ji Wusheng said angrily, "After a long time of hard work, a pile of rubbish came out." He said that he had no skills in glass blowing and couldn't make anything now.
Li Mei clapped her hands after hearing this: "Oh, you guys are really good. You talk about working together all day long, ask me about this!"
"What?!" Everyone's eyes suddenly widened. Wen Desi was also surprised - Li Mei's file did not say that she had been a glass worker - the Ming family did have a unique skill that could travel through the world.
No, but it has nothing to do with glass.
"You know how to blow glass? That's great, hurry up and help demonstrate." Ji Wusheng's energy immediately came to him, and he almost went to grab the old lady.
"I don't know how to blow glass." Li Mei still looked calm and calm, "But when I was the manager of a logistics trading company, I had a lot of different kinds of glass products, so I know a little bit about it."
She pointed to the strange-shaped glassware and said: "Let's talk about cups and the like. There are generally two types, one is blown and the other is molded-"
Wen Desi cried out: "Molding! Why did I forget it!"
"That's right. Mr. Wen, have you remembered it too?" Li Mei said with a smile on her face, "Since we can't make a blowing machine, then we can use a molding machine. In fact, when it comes to glasses, there are more molded ones than blown ones.
too much."
"Okay, let's give it a try now!" Ji Situi thought that this idea opened up a new situation. Molding requires the use of molds. Designing and manufacturing molds is a piece of cake for the mechanical department, let alone such a simple thing.
.
"Wait a minute, we need to finalize the specifications first." Wen Desi said, "Since we are using molds, we must determine the appearance, specifications, and dimensions. This will facilitate future standardized manufacturing, otherwise it will cause waste."
Everyone looked at each other. We have seen many glass cups and glass bottles. Who knows what their specifications are? But Xiao Bailang thought about it: Go to the planning committee's warehouse and get a copy of all kinds of glassware.
Come out and do field surveying and mapping, won’t you know?
At that moment, Wen Desi quickly called Ma Qianzhu and asked to temporarily borrow a batch of glassware. The glassware research team here was divided into two groups. One group was composed of Ji Wusheng, Xiao Bailang and other metallurgical machinery personnel, and received the samples.
After that, they immediately started surveying and mapping and opening molds. On the other hand, the chemical workers led by Ji Situi continued to smelt glass frit to prepare sufficient raw materials for subsequent large-scale production. The division of labor was now decided and everyone took action.
Wen Desi himself also worked on molds. Since he had nothing to do during the Chinese New Year holiday, he just followed the mechanical part and provided some professional advice on mold manufacturing.
Xiao Bailang looked over and over at the various glasses, glass bowls, glass vases, wine bottles, water bottles, various tea sets, and coffee sets borrowed from the Planning Commission, not knowing which one to draw first.
"Let's get an octagonal glass." Wen Desi thought that it was hard to say what the demand was for the market in the 17th century. It was better to get simple things first.
"Okay!" Designing a mold for this kind of thing is not difficult for Xiao Bailang, who has a background in mechanics. He looked at the octagonal cup, measured the size, and drew a simple sketch on his notebook with a pencil.
I picked up a ruler and pencil and designed the mold drawings on the spot.
"Mr. Wen, what do you think of this mold?"
Wen Desi looked at the picture below. The mold for this kind of cup and bowl is very simple. It is a two-part combination design with matching clamps. There is no problem.
"It's ready like this. We don't need any good materials. Let Ji Wusheng cast it with pig iron."
The first day of the new year in 1629 passed like this.
The next day, Ji Sidei sent several pairs of pig iron molds made overnight to the glass factory. Since the physical properties of the glass liquid were roughly known through glass blowing yesterday, after everyone discussed and made several trial productions, they determined
The process flow is as follows: First, apply a layer of charcoal powder mixed with tung oil inside the mold to prevent the glass liquid from adhering to the inside of the mold. Then Ji Sihui dipped a blowpipe into a ball of viscous glass slurry and blew it into the blowpipe.
While using the air, roll the taken out glass frit into a round shape on a clean iron rolling plate, and then start to lift the blowpipe and the glass bubble to blow upward, so as to prevent the glass frit from being concentrated at the bottom of the glass bubble. When the volume of the glass bubble
After reaching a certain size, put down the blowpipe, use crucible pliers to stretch the glass bubble to the length of the cast iron mold, put the glass bubble into the cast iron mold, and let the glass bubble sink to the bottom of the mold. At this time, the person next to you steps on the wooden plywood to pull the glass bubble.
The mold is closed, and while continuing to blow air, the glass bubble in the mold is rotated by continuously rotating the blow pipe. After a while, the glass bubble is knocked down with cold water. Open the cast iron mold, and a beautiful octagonal glass appears in front of everyone.
Everyone heaved a sigh of relief.
Then he made round glasses, glass bowls, Western-style goblets, and even glass wine bottles - this is what Guo Yi has been requesting for a long time.
The finished glassware is placed in an annealing kiln for annealing treatment. Then, they are sent to the machinery factory, where the blowpipe opening is cut off with a high-speed wheel saw and polished - these are done by the apprentice team of the machinery department.
The young men will do it.
The first batch of formed glassware made the entire glass research team unable to put it down. After receiving the good news, the Executive Committee ordered that one piece of each type of glassware be extracted and sent to the Planning Commission as an "important historical relic" for permanent use.
save.
Ji Sixui continued his efforts and simply followed Guo Yi's request in the telegram and asked Xiao Bailang to design a set of molds based on the appearance of the flat bottle Red Star Erguotou and manufactured 300 wine bottles in one go. This small object has a simple shape and low material cost.
It is rarely used and is just for everyone to practice.