After the military instructor’s explanation and demonstration, Su Yang had a deep understanding of black powder.
Black powder is made by mixing potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur.
There is a classic mnemonic called “one nitrate, two sulfur, three charcoal,” meaning one jin (old measure sixteen liang) of nitrate, two liang of sulfur, and three liang of charcoal.
Mixing and frying according to the above proportion, black powder is made.
Except for sulfur which needs to be purchased, nitrate and charcoal can be made by themselves.
The largest consumption and the most complicated production process is for nitrate.
Nitrate is also known as “nitre,” and its effective component is nitrate salts such as potassium nitrate and sodium nitrate.
Nitrate production is commonly known as “boiling nitrate,” which consumes a lot of time and firewood.
The method is: take nitrate-containing soil (commonly known as alkaline soil) and place it in water. After filtering, clarifying, and sun exposure, a higher concentration solution is obtained.
The solution is heated in a pot to evaporate water, and heating is stopped when crystals begin to appear at the bottom of the pot.
Because the solubility of nitrate salts varies greatly with temperature, nitrate can be obtained from the bottom of the pot after the solution cools.
Compared with boiling nitrate, burning charcoal is much easier.
According to the amount of charcoal needed, dig a kiln, fill it with firewood, stalks, and other firewood, and ignite it.
When the fire is hot enough, quickly block the entrance of the hole, making sure it is airtight, so that the firewood inside is carbonized under high temperature and lack of oxygen.
With nitrate, sulfur, and charcoal, you can fry black powder.
This is the most dangerous stage of the entire production process, and a slight mistake can lead to tragedy.
Black powder is an explosive material. The temperature at the moment of explosion can reach over 1000 degrees Celsius, with extremely strong destructive power.
Black powder is highly sensitive, flammable, and can be ignited by sparks.
It will explode immediately upon heating or impact, so extra care is needed.
Su Yang was learning diligently.
With day-by-day learning, Su Yang’s extraordinary comprehension allowed him to grasp many knowledge points.
Or rather, the chemical knowledge he had previously learned about the manufacture of sulfuric acid… etc., resurfaced.
Finally, Su Yang found a way to manufacture smokeless powder.
Smokeless powder is composed of nitrocellulose, which is a mixture of nitric acid, sulfuric acid, and fiber.
Similarly, the energy of smokeless powder is three times that of black powder, so it can increase the speed, range, and power of bullets.
However, the difficulty of manufacturing smokeless powder lies in the production of sulfuric acid.
Sulfuric acid is an important raw material for gunpowder, known as the “mother of gunpowder.”
There are two methods for manufacturing sulfuric acid: contact method and lead chamber method.
The contact method requires platinum, vanadium pentoxide, and other catalysts, which is not feasible based on the current conditions.
So only the lead chamber method has a chance.
Because it involves burning sulfur to produce sulfur dioxide gas, mixing it with excess air and water vapor, and then passing it into a corrosion-resistant lead chamber to form dilute sulfuric acid, it does not require special materials.
Just as Su Yang was diligently researching the production of sulfuric acid, nitric acid, and nitrocellulose needed for smokeless powder.
On the other side.
The county brigade base.
The messenger broke through the Japanese blockade and finally returned to the base.
Then he found the brigade commander and handed over the letter.
When Zhang Liang received the contents of the letter, he was completely stunned.
He instantly stood up, stared at the messenger, and excitedly asked: “Did you really surrender a heavy machine gun and a 75mm field gun?”
“Where on earth did your platoon get these weapons?”
The messenger was dumbfounded by Zhang Liang’s three consecutive questions, and then said with a smile: “Brigade commander, the captain only asked me to deliver the letter and didn’t say anything else.”
“The captain also said that if you ask, just say that the one-month deadline hasn’t passed yet. He will personally report to you in a month.”
“However, our team captured a heavy machine gun and a field gun while eliminating bandits for the people.”
Captured from bandits?
What kind of bandit has such a rich collection?
The most important thing is that the Third Platoon successfully wiped out these bandits!
This… to what extent has the Third Platoon developed?
Could it be that they have already completed the agreement?
Judging from the fact that they traded a heavy machine gun and a field gun for a machine gunner, the Third Platoon must be rolling in money.
Thinking of this.
Zhang Liang could no longer hold back and said directly: “You little Su Yang, you’re playing dumb with me.”
“Forget it, there’s only one week left until the one-month deadline. Go back and tell Su Yang that I can apply for the people for him. Let him prepare the weapons according to the agreement and wait for me.”
“Yes!”
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