New materials help Chinese warships

This anti-rust material can help Chinese warships achieve higher speed and mobility than their opponents.

New anti-rust materials help Chinese warships more durable

A groundbreaking new invention in Chinese steel production technology can help the country's ships and submarines move faster, with a longer lifespan than foreign ships, South China Morning Post reported on September 15.

According to researchers at the Institute of Metal Studies at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Shenyang, Liaoning, the new technology could also save billions of yuan when it can replace steel that has been damaged. rust, wear and tear when exposed to sea water.

Although new in the testing phase, this particular material can be used to make important parts such as welds or screw shafts, where the coating of traditional anti-rust materials is very difficult or impossible. In addition to anti-rust effect, this material also helps increase the operation and durability of vehicles, Chinese scientists under the guidance of Professor Yang Ke said.

New technology can help Chinese warships increase durability and mobility.(Photo: SCMP).

These types of bacteria are now considered the most dangerous enemies of Chinese warships, more than the threat of other warships.Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria are present throughout the world's oceans and especially like to eat steel. Even duplex stainless steel sheets, the most effective and hardest anti-rust material in the shipbuilding industry, can also wear up to 40mm per year due to the greed of this bacterium.

These bacteria build up on the hulls more and more, forming thick layers of high mass, increasing friction, reducing speed and mobility of ships. Chinese scientists estimate that about a third of the fuel on board is wasted due to the resistance of the rust layers.

The Chinese navy has not yet published data on the effect of this steel-eating bacterium on its ships, while the US Navy has to spend up to $ 23 billion a year to clean up its warships. rust layers.

In 2011, the USS Independence carrier was forced to return to port and was put up for maintenance after less than a year of operation because of severe rust on steel parts around the engine.

The study of new materials to protect warships is not new, and has been in use since the 18th century. At that time, the British navy sought to cover a layer of copper on its wooden warships. I had to fight against decay, and it was this technology that helped the British navy hold a dominant position at sea in the late 18th century.

However, when steel warships began to be closed, this copper coating was removed because they caused too much weight for the ship which was already heavy, and greatly affected the cost of manufacturing and the Durable of the ship.

British warship HMS Dolphin is covered with copper to prevent the item.(Photo: SCMP).

From these historical experiences, Professor Yang's team sought to combine copper with duplex stainless steel , which is widely used in the shipbuilding industry. After more than 10 years of research, they finally found a formula to maximize the copper's ability to fight bacteria without losing its durability.

To test this new material, scientists implanted P. aeruginosa on it. The copper-steel compound kills nearly 97% of the bacteria in just one week, preventing rust and "effectively removing the biofilm" outside the material, according to the study's report. Biofouling magazine.

Huang Weiping, professor of maritime engineering at China Ocean University, said the new material could be a breakthrough to help China become a new naval power that dominates the sea.

"The most effective antirust coatings must be replaced every few years. For submarine projects, these multiple coatings cannot be done underwater , " Huang said.

In terms of cost, this new steel also has a huge advantage when it is cheap, because of the use of popular materials today. Some similar bactericidal products have also been developed for medical purposes, but they are too expensive to be used in the shipbuilding industry.

"The life of the ship does not depend on the most durable parts, but the weakest parts. Therefore, just using this steel to make the most sensitive parts can increase performance and level. The ship's durability is significantly increased, " said Mr. Huang.

However, this material has only been tested in the laboratory, and it needs to undergo a realistic environment to prove its advantages, and the actual test results may not be as good as in Laboratory, this scientist warns.