In the furnace, the light released from the metal powder in the mold was very bright, but it did not melt.
Both metal rhenium and metal tungsten are extremely heat-resistant and have a high melting point - this is one of the main reasons used to cast the internal components of nuclear bombs. Therefore, simple heating cannot allow them to quickly transform into forms, and other operations must be performed. Just fine.
Pressurize.
"Crack!"
With a sound, Richard pulled a lever outside the furnace.
"Buzz buzz!"
A subtle roar sounded, and the air pump started working, injecting the inert gas argon into the sealed furnace to increase the pressure.
Finally, under the dual effects of high temperature and high pressure, the metal tungsten and the metal rhenium gradually melted and were successfully sintered into a rhenium-tungsten alloy metal block.
…
Richard worked in front of the furnace for a long time and obtained hundreds of sintered rhenium-tungsten alloy components.
These components are very rough and need to be further processed to reduce the tolerances so that they can meet the numerical requirements in the nuclear weapons design drawings.
But no matter what, the second process of making nuclear weapons is considered completed.
Then comes the third process.
Richard moved his body and left the furnace.
…
The third process is carried out in the highest-level laboratory in Eden, which is the underground laboratory of the dangerous goods functional sector.
What we want to do this time is to process beryllium metal.
Metal beryllium is considered a non-toxic element, but beryllium powder reacts with air and can easily be converted into beryllium oxide. Once the human body absorbs beryllium oxide, it will be converted into beryllium hydroxylate through a reaction in the body, which can cause beryllium poisoning pneumonia, which can be fatal.
For this reason, Richard put on a full set of protective clothing. On the one hand, it is for absolute safety, and on the other hand, it is also for practice for the next process.
In the highest-level underground laboratory in Eden, a processing table has been set up in a room, which is not much different from the processing table in Research Room No. 1 of the Mechanical Processing Sector. They are all wide and heavy, steady and precise, and are equipped with levels and screw jacks. In addition, more mechanical arms are installed. The ends of the mechanical arms are equipped with space iron rings for cutting - reality has proved that this is the most advanced machine. Good blade.
In the three-proof mask, Richard took a deep breath of air from the oxygen tank, walked to the operating table, grabbed the robotic arm and started working.
The free energy elements in the body surged out, penetrated the protective clothing and acted on the space iron ring, turning on the "absolute cutting with space scissors" and "absolute processing with space precision" functions of the iron ring, and approached the metal beryllium on the operating table.
"Zhizhi, Zhizhi..."
An extremely subtle sound sounded, and the metal beryllium kept changing its shape, moving closer to the shape on the design drawing.
…
After another long period of time, the processing of beryllium metal in the third process was also completed, and the fourth process was officially ushered in.
This is the most important process in the manufacturing of nuclear weapons and is the core.
What needs to be done in this process is to process nuclear raw materials—that is, metallic uranium-235.
The specific content is to cast uranium 235 metal into a metal block and then cut it into the required shape—that is, the combination of the second process and the third process—which is why it is necessary to perform the first two steps before proceeding. The reason for this step is to ensure that the already low accident probability is reduced again after "practice".
…
It is also the highest level underground laboratory in the Garden of Eden.
in another room.
Wearing protective clothing, Richard took out the weapons-grade uranium metal from the heavy lead box, put it into a ceramic crucible, and sent it to an electric furnace installed here.
Pull down the joystick and the air pump starts to work. It first evacuates the oxygen inside, and then injects an excess amount of inert gas argon. While avoiding oxidation reaction, the inside of the furnace is placed in a high-pressure environment, which is conducive to melting.
After completing this step, Richard solemnly pressed the button.
"Sisi~"
The current is turned on, the furnace is running, the internal temperature rises rapidly, the weapons-grade metal uranium is melted, and then poured into a mold to cast it into the desired shape.
After completing this step, the reshaped uranium metal was placed on the processing platform in the previous room. Richard operated the sword control iron ring at the end of the robotic arm, cutting the uranium metal like beryllium metal.
"Zhizhi, Zhizhi..."
The space iron ring smoothly crossed the surface of the uranium metal, and the uneven undulations instantly became smooth and visible in the mirror. The degree of fineness has exceeded the limit that the human eye can distinguish.
"Zhizhi, Zhizhi..."
As Richard continued to process, the surface of the uranium metal became brighter and brighter, as if he had wiped a dusty mirror with a rag soaked in water - it seemed that the uranium metal was originally like this, and now it was just restored. As is.
In the silent processing room, the robotic arm is constantly moving, and a large and bright component is slowly taking shape, showing an astonishing beauty.
Finally, the component is completed.
From the looks of it, its shape is a bit weird, like a glass drinking glass. The mouth of the bottle is first extremely curved toward the outside, and then extends toward the bottom of the cup - at a certain angle, it looks like an exaggerated vase.
But in fact, it is neither a water cup nor a vase. There is a huge round hole at the bottom, making it unable to hold anything.
It is the internal component of a nuclear weapon—the most important and core nuclear material component.
Its appearance is as smooth as glass and as bright as a mirror, with every surface reflecting the light from the room lights. It looks radiant and flowing, more exquisite than diamonds and crystals, like an ingenious work of art.
In fact, it is indeed a work of art—an object created by the art of technology, industry, and destruction.
This is a "Crystal Heart", a seed of destruction.
Richard breathed in the protective suit, carefully picked up the processed uranium metal component, stared at it with his eyes, and showed a knowing smile after looking at it for a long time.
The hard work for so long finally paid off, and finally saw the dawn of success.
It's not easy, it's not easy.
But, it's worth it.
Worth it.
Richard spent more than ten seconds quietly enjoying the satisfaction of a successful job, then slowly put away the uranium components and walked out of the room.
…
Now the fourth and most important process of nuclear weapons manufacturing has been completed, but this does not mean that nuclear weapons have been produced.
On the contrary, there are still many tedious processes before nuclear weapons are actually produced.
Although these processes are not as important as the uranium metal components of the "Crystal Heart", they still affect the effectiveness of nuclear weapons.
The principle of nuclear weapons is very simple, but when actually produced, it is a highly sophisticated industrial product. This leads to any problem in any detail, which will greatly reduce the power of the explosion, or even prevent the explosion from happening.
In a nutshell, nuclear weapons have not yet been successfully manufactured and efforts need to continue.
Then keep working hard.
…