China's Space Station Sets Record, Paving Way for Advanced Heat-Resistant Materials

Chinese space scientists and taikonauts have made a significant breakthrough aboard China's Tiangong space station. They successfully heated a tungsten alloy to over 3100 degrees Celsius within the container-free material science laboratory cabinet, establishing a new world record. This achievement was reported by China Central Television (CCTV).

The container-free material science laboratory cabinet is designed to allow scientists to study heat-resistant materials under extreme temperatures. This unique environment enables the collection of crucial data that is impossible to obtain through ground-based experiments. This data is essential for the development of advanced heat-resistant materials.

Over the past four years, the laboratory, located within the Tianhe core module of the Tiangong space station, has been used to conduct experiments on various heat-resistant materials. These materials include tungsten alloy and niobium alloy, which are designed to withstand the intense heat generated by rocket engines, as well as other novel materials.

The recent experiment pushed the temperature of the tungsten alloy to over 3,000 degrees Celsius, a temperature approaching half that of the sun's surface. This remarkable feat highlights advancements in two key technologies.

On Earth, the effects of gravity present challenges when working with molten metals. The metal either adheres to containers or separates into layers due to density differences, hindering the formation of uniform alloys. However, in the microgravity environment of space, surface tension causes molten metal to form a sphere. The experiment cabinet utilizes electrostatic forces to hold the metal in place, suspending it without any contact. This "container-free" approach eliminates contamination and disturbance, providing a pristine environment for experimentation.

The second key technology is the experiment cabinet's dual-wavelength laser system. This system combines a semiconductor laser and a carbon dioxide laser, delivering a high-power output of 300 watts. This powerful system is used to melt tungsten alloy, a metal with an extremely high melting point, into a liquid sphere. The combination of these technologies allows scientists to observe the behavior of heat-resistant materials at extreme temperatures, such as how the tungsten alloy flows when melted and crystallizes when cooled. This invaluable data, unattainable through ground-based experiments, is crucial for the design of new heat-resistant materials in China.

These advanced materials could potentially serve as the protective "armor" for spacecraft, enabling them to withstand the intense heat during atmospheric reentry. They could also be used as the critical components of rocket engines, ensuring stable operation under extreme conditions. Each advancement brings humanity closer to realizing its aspirations of space exploration.