Summary of Key Points
Zhang Jingjie's team made an accidental discovery of hollow glass microspheres during a "failed experiment." After 30 years of arduous research and development, they broke through foreign technological monopolies and successfully developed a high-performance domestic buoyancy material. This material has supported domestic deep-sea submersibles such as the "Deep Sea Warrior" and "Striver" in diving to depths of ten thousand meters. The technology has also been applied in various fields, including aerospace, civil applications, and medicine, laying a critical foundation for China's marine exploration and related industries.
Detailed Breakdown and Interpretation
1. An "Failed" Experiment Unleashed a New Path for Buoyancy Materials
Zhang Jingjie's team was originally researching solid glass spheres (with a diameter of only one-third that of a human hair) to be used in reflective vests and backpack straps. During an experiment, the spheres, which were supposed to sink to the bottom, actually floated on the surface—considered a failure at the time. Out of curiosity, they discovered that these were hollow glass spheres (with a hollow interior), which had a lower density than water. Further research revealed that combining hollow glass microspheres with resin could create a solid buoyancy material, similar to the swim bladders used in submersibles. Submersibles rely on this material to float back to the surface after deep dives, and all international submersibles use it; however, China was completely dependent on imports at that time. The team realized immediately that this material was essential for the country's marine development and decided to pursue its production.
2. From "Electric Fans + Gas Cylinders" to Industrialization: A Challenging Road
The initial research conditions were extremely basic:
- Laboratory Phase: They used electric fans without proper ventilation and household gas cylinders as a source of gas, designing the equipment themselves and finding small manufacturers to produce it.
- Pilot Phase: They rented a farmyard in Tongzhou (due to limited funding) and made do with a single microscope from a scrap yard. They also enlisted villagers to help build the first 5-kilogram-scale device.
- Persistence and Innovation: Despite financial constraints, they continued to refine the formula, increasing the production of qualified hollow spheres from 20% to 95%. It was not until 2007 that they received support for a marine project, and then they moved to a base in Langfang to scale up production.
3. Breaking Foreign Monopolies: Domestic Submersibles Use "Made in China" Materials
- Determination to Replace Imports: In 2012, the "Jiaolong" submersible used foreign materials (not even the best available), which motivated the team to pursue domestic production even more.
- Sea Trials: The material was tested at a depth of 4,000 meters for five months and performed at an internationally advanced level.
- Deep Sea Warrior: The team overcame various challenges within half a year to produce thousands of pieces of the material and passed high-pressure tests (simulating deep-sea conditions). In 2017, the "Deep Sea Warrior" successfully dived to a depth of 4,500 meters.
- Striver: To meet the requirements for multiple ten-thousand-meter dives, they developed a safer version of the material. After extensive testing (including cyclic pressure and salt spray tests), it was used with the "Wanquan" lander to reach a depth of 10,909 meters in 2020. Only when the submersible surfaced were they truly relieved.
4. The Versatile Applications of Glass Microspheres
The uses of hollow glass microspheres extend beyond buoyancy materials:
- Marine: The new material is used in the "Manta" seabed mining vehicle, which can operate underwater for 3 to 20 years.
- Aerospace: It provides insulation for spacecraft and keeps cryogenic storage tanks cold.
- Civil Applications: It is used in latex mats and pillows (lightweight and supportive) as well as clothing (warm and comfortable).
- Medicine: There is potential for its use in cancer treatment for precise tumor localization.
5. The Joy of Scientific Research: Growing Through Overcoming Challenges
Zhang Jingjie said, "The joy of success comes in the moment, but even greater joy lies in looking back at the difficulties overcome." The team's motivation came from their commitment to meeting China's marine development needs. From the laboratory to industrialization, and from no support to national projects, they relied on perseverance. Today, all domestic deep-sea submersibles use their material, representing the most valuable achievement for these researchers.
This story not only highlights a technological breakthrough but also demonstrates the sense of responsibility of scientists in addressing national priorities. A small glass sphere has become a crucial component that supports China's advanced deep-sea capabilities as a major maritime power.