2008 is the 50th anniversary of the Zhengzhou Abrasives Grinding Research Institute, which coincides with the 45th anniversary of the birth of the first synthetic diamond in China. On the day of this double happiness, as one of the veterans of the abrasives industry in China and one of the witnesses of the development history of China's artificial diamonds, I would like to revisit several historical shots for sharing.
First, codename "121"
In October of 1960, the First Ministry of Machinery Industry issued a national key scientific research project. For the sake of confidentiality, the title of the project was code-named "121", which was the public secret that was later known as a synthetic diamond project. .
With the development of China's national economy, the emergence of high-hardness and difficult-to-machine materials, the demand for diamonds in machining, geological exploration, oil exploration, metallurgy, electronics industry and military systems is increasing. China's natural diamonds have been proven to be scarce, and mining is far from satisfying demand. At that time, the annual output was only a few thousand carats, so it has been relying on imports, not only tens of millions of dollars of foreign exchange per year, but also into the 20th century. Due to changes in the international situation, imports were almost hopeless. Synthetic diamonds were only mastered by a few industrialized countries such as the United States. As a strategic material, they were strictly blocked and kept secret. Faced with this situation, under the great call of the central government to "self-reliance, hard work, and catching up with the world's advanced science and technology," our company and the fraternal units have accepted this glorious and arduous task. As a kind of super-hard abrasive at the time, the task of the diamond naturally fell to our laboratory and our abrasive research laboratory. At that time, I was deeply pressured as the director of the room. Under the personal leadership of the leader, after research and decision, the deputy director of the research office, Comrade Yu Hongchang, immediately put down the room work, and served as the head of the "121" project. At the same time, he transferred the technical backbone of the research room, Wang Guangzu, Lu Feixiong, Yu Zhengmin, Li Jinbao. The comrades form the "121" task force. Together with the General Machinery Research Institute of the Ministry of Machinery and the Institute of Geological Sciences of the Ministry of Geology, under the condition that there is almost no reference and extreme difficulty, the scientific technology peak climbing to synthetic diamonds began.
Due to the cooperation of the participating units, after several months of intense activities, data search, research and analysis, the Taskbook on Artificial Diamond Research Project proposed by the research group was officially approved by the Ministry of Machinery in March 1961. Firstly, the design of high-pressure high-temperature equipment was completed mainly by General Machinery Research Institute, and then the difficulties of manufacturing and equipment were broken. Finally, at the end of 1962, China's first set of Type 61 high-pressure high-temperature equipment was provided, which provided conditions for synthetic diamond synthesis test. At the same time, I looked at the Beijing Library and the Information Patent Office with the books of the Beijing Library and the Information Patent Office. I collected the nearly ten curves about diamond synthesis that I could find at the same time. The empirical formula and the graphite-diamond balance curve were summarized, and the synthetic pressure and temperature conditions were determined. The catalyst, carbon and assembly method were selected. The direct heating method was selected in combination with the electric heating knowledge of ordinary abrasives. The Theoretical Basis of Synthetic Process and the Implementation Plan of Synthetic Diamond Synthetic Process were officially presented in November 1962. The Synthetic Diamond Synthetic Process Plan Task Book provides a theoretical basis and specific implementation plan for the development of synthetic diamond. After repeated trials and failures, it broke through the difficulties. Finally, on December 6, 1963, in the 32nd synthetic test of the last group of programs, the first synthetic diamond in China was successfully developed. It took more than two years before and after. It has rounded up the centennial dream of many people at home and abroad, and it has taken more than 10 years to complete the journey of industrialized countries. The code name "121" has therefore been forever included in the history of the development of science and technology in China. This project has won the National Science Conference Award, the National Machinery Industry Science Conference Award, and the Henan Provincial Science Conference Award.
Second, the care of the Prime Minister Our most beloved Premier Zhou Enlai, who was working hard at home and abroad during his lifetime, has always been concerned about the development of China's synthetic diamonds. I remember that when the head of the Ministry of Machines reported the diamond production to the Prime Minister in 1969, the Prime Minister made three instructions: First, the diamond was later arrested by the comrades. (Comrade Li Xiannian was appointed as the deputy prime minister). Second, diamond production should also engage in mass movements like polysilicon and monocrystalline silicon. (At that time, the country was vigorously promoting the production of polysilicon and monocrystalline silicon; third, whether it can produce 200,000 carats next year! The historical facts comforted the Prime Minister, and the three instructions were all realized.
First of all, Vice Premier Li Xiannian, in the different stages of the development of synthetic diamonds, has not only made many verbal instructions on the achievements and problems in progress, but also made many written instructions:
On October 29, 1970, in the "Shanghai Grinding Wheel Factory broke the technical mystery, the diamond production increased by 13 times" briefing on the report: whether the diamond production is also like a polysilicon, monocrystalline silicon to engage in a annihilation battle. From this briefing, it is not so mysterious. The Shanghai Grinding Wheel Factory has already opened the way, and other factories can learn.
On the eve of the National Synthetic Diamond Conference in September 1971, Vice Premier Li instructed that this important strategic material must be based on the domestic market. Now it will cost tens of millions of dollars to import from capitalist countries every year. What should people do?
On December 29, 1971, the National Planning Conference forwarded the "Report on the Production and Research of Synthetic Diamonds", and stated that: constantly grasping, we can always grab good quality and quantity.
On July 26, 1973, the State Council Letters and Visits Office Briefing 61, “On the issue of artificial diamond production backlog on Shangsha.†Instructions: Why is diamond not used? Is there no promotion? It is recommended to investigate and expand the scope of use. When the sales are not going out, the Ministry of Finance will close it up. I wonder if foreign trade can be exported?
On September 9, 1973, the "Report on Solving the Backlog of Synthetic Diamonds" was issued to the Ministry of Machinery. It was suggested that a positive policy should be adopted and no cold water should be poured. Some problems with a new product are understandable. When encountering a problem, is it difficult to advance, or is it difficult to retreat? You can only take advantage of the difficulties and never retreat. It is an opportunist to retreat. However, it is necessary to mobilize the masses, strengthen leadership, sum up experience, and quickly improve quality and multi-variety production. Don't worry, but you can't be too slow. If you can do it with the utmost strength, you should do it. If you do your best, you may not be able to do it.
On June 23, 1974, the proposed diamond inspection team went to Ghana and Zaire to ask for a message: We had a very tight grasp of artificial diamonds in the past few years and made progress. It seems to have cooled down in recent years. Take this work hard! The foothold should be produced on your own, and relying on yourself is the only good way.
On October 14, 1974, the Geological Bureau compiled the "Geological Briefing", 1974, No. 27, "The Situation of Natural Diamond Resources in China": artificial diamonds cannot be relaxed.
On October 25, 1974, the instructions of the Ministry of Machinery and Industry were reflected in the "Seventeenth issue of the Supplement" and "New Progress on the Development and Application of Artificial King Kong": To be encouraged.
Second, under the direction of the Prime Minister and other central leaders, we have made every effort to promote the promotion of synthetic diamonds. By participating in the site selection, design and providing a full set of production process technical information and personnel training, China's first synthetic diamond professional production plant - the sixth grinding wheel factory was put into trial production at the end of 1969. In the promotion of synthetic diamond activities, we have printed a large number of promotional materials such as synthetic diamond applications and a full set of basic technical and technical materials for synthetic diamond production, free of charge to relevant units across the country. Unselfishly and unpaidly trained three or four hundred professional technicians and workers for dozens of units in the industry and metallurgical, geological, coal, petroleum and other systems. Earlier, there were first, second and sixth grinding wheel factories, Shanghai grinding wheel factory, Suzhou grinding wheel factory, Beijing Yanjiao Diamond Factory of Ministry of Metallurgy, and Logistics 712 factory of Wuhan Military Region. There are only 40 cadres, technicians and workers trained by the 712 factory. At that time, in order to provide learning conditions for the brothers and students, the whole machine was fully loaded and the trainees took turns to work. The canteen was tense. The leader personally led the cadre to the kitchen cafeteria. The single dormitory was full. The laboratory was ordered to vacate some of the laboratories to temporarily solve the student accommodation problem. Therefore, the production of synthetic diamond in China is soon spread in the country like polysilicon and monocrystalline silicon.
Thirdly, in addition to our institute and Liusha, many participating training units have also been put into production very quickly. In 1970, China's synthetic diamond production jumped through the 200,000 pulls requested by the Prime Minister and actually completed 245,000 carats.
Third, research-based, and small production in order to make the scientific research results of synthetic diamonds into industrial production as soon as possible, in April 1965, a machine department to our institute, Jinan Casting and Forging, Shanghai Materials Institute, issued the National Section The "Procedures on the Intermediate Test Plan for Synthetic Diamonds" approved by the committee requires the establishment of a synthetic diamond intermediate test base in our institute. In addition to the overall responsibility of the project, I also undertake the research tasks of synthesis process, raw material processing technology, product sorting process, physical and chemical identification and inspection methods. Jinan Casting and Forging Institute is mainly responsible for the design and trial production of six-sided top press. Shanghai Materials Research Institute is mainly responsible for the development of hard alloy top hammer. Thanks to the joint efforts of the three units, it took less than a year to complete the intermediate test task. In the completion of this task, I almost mobilized the strength of the whole company, and worked together in the hot sun. In the harmful smoke, some comrades broke the eardrum in the explosion of the top hammer, and in the acid treatment of the earth method. After burning hands and feet, forgetting to sleep, and working hard, I finally completed the construction of the artificial diamond intermediate test base.
In the research, construction and production, my artificial diamond production broke through the 10,000-carat mark in 1966. The material is rare, because the synthetic diamond is in the intermediate test stage, and it is only produced exclusively by me, so the diamond price was very expensive at the time. Today, the market is a dime for one carat, usually the abrasive grade synthetic diamond, then the price is 30. Yuan Yikla. The industry has always looked at the envious eyes and joked: "The abrasives are really a press, gold is two!" Especially in 1967, we not only expanded the diamond production, but also successfully developed and put into production of synthetic diamond powder and grinding. The paste not only meets the urgent needs of some departments of the national economy, including the military system, but also brings great economic benefits. It not only guarantees the expenses of scientific research expenses, but also makes the funds of the whole office more self-sufficient. Therefore, under the coordination of the ministry and the bureau, interest-free loans were made to the economically difficult brothers. I remember that there is a first wheel factory and a Chengdu tool research institute. This is a miracle for the National Research Institute, which has been eating "Imperial Food". It was unique in the country at that time. To this end, the State Science and Technology Commission has adopted the typical example of "taking research as the mainstay and engaging in small-scale production", and has promoted our institute to the national scientific research units. Our company has also been invited many times to introduce the experience at the National Factory Directors' Meeting, the Directors' Meeting and relevant meetings in Henan and Zhengzhou. The guidelines and practices of "based on research and small production" have guided the development of our company for a long time.
Fourth, marching toward large particles In the intermediate-level test tasks of abrasive-grade synthetic diamonds, they gradually turned to industrial production, in order to meet the demand for large-grain diamonds in the development of national economy. Inspired by the slogan of the leaders of the central government, "Diamond should be based on domestic, based on man-made" and the slogan "Man must win the day" (man-made must be better than natural), according to the spirit of the instructions of a machine department, our institute began in 1967. Large particle synthetic diamonds entered. In 1968, the "large particle synthetic diamond test research group" was formally established. In response to the call for the “May 7th†road and certain confidentiality at the time, the official name of the group was “Five-Seven Test Groupâ€. I also served as the team leader, Shao Dehou and Yu Hongchang as deputy heads, and served as the heads of the single crystal and polycrystalline research groups. At the time of the Cultural Revolution, all cadres were decentralized. Therefore, the workers, technicians and leading cadres of the experimental group worked together to study plans and formulate plans. They participated in the trials day and night, participated in the trials, summarized and analyzed together, improved and improved, brainstormed and worked hard, and quickly achieved remarkable results. A single crystal of about 1 mm in good quality and a small amount of single crystal black diamond of about 1.5 mm are synthesized on a single crystal. We synthesized a single crystal of the largest size up to 6mm. Although the product color, crystal form, strength, etc. are not ideal due to equipment conditions and the like. However, the valuable parameters such as the selection, assembly method and synthetic process conditions of the large-grain synthetic diamond synthetic materials were explored, which laid the foundation for the later development of large-particle and high-strength synthetic diamond. The development of polycrystalline diamond, although started slightly later, was very Breakthrough progress has been made. It not only illustrates the correctness of the development of large-grain synthetic diamonds, but also the different specifications of polycrystalline diamonds that have been successfully developed and put into production. Urgent need in the coal, oil and other sectors. The "Jet-type Synthetic Diamond Polycrystalline Three-Scraper Drill Bit" developed by our institute in cooperation with Shengli Oilfield not only realized the many years of dreams of a well driller such as Iron Man Wang Jinxi, but also created a world record of 31.25.87m for a single drill bit. , won the national second-class invention award. The research project of large particle synthetic diamond also won the National Science Conference Award and the National Machinery Industry and Henan Science Conference Award.
V. "Who said that chicken feathers can't go to heaven"
In the transition from synthetic diamond to industrial production, as the backbone enterprise of the abrasives industry in China, Shanghai Wheel Factory has always been one of the units in front. In the intermediate test stage of our artificial diamonds, they prepared the production conditions, and sent the workers' masters and technicians. After the short-term training, they started the trial production soon. By 1970, synthetic diamond production had soared 13 times. The news passed the internal reference to the central government, and Vice Premier Li Xiannian gave special instructions. Direction: It seems that diamond production is not so mysterious. The Shanghai grinding wheel factory has already opened the road, and other factories can learn. At that time, the Department of Computers also attached great importance to it. I immediately asked my office to send people to help summarize the experience so that it could be promoted in the industry. I made a special trip to Shanghai according to the arrangement. Zhu Qingsheng, director of the Shanghai Grinding Wheel Factory, personally took the lead and also invited a reporter from Wenhui Daily. After nearly a week of intense activities, we visited the workers' masters, technicians and workshop leaders, held several small symposiums, and finally summed up a typical material. On this basis, Shanghai Wenhui Daily said "Who said chicken feathers can't "God" is a topic, using nearly half of the length of the space, made a special report.
Sixth, catching "three hairs"
The National Planning Conference on January 24, 1971 was held at the Beijing National Hotel. Comrade Yuan Baohua presided over a discussion on the development of materials industry such as synthetic diamonds. At the meeting, Comrade Chen Huatang (who was then deputy director of the State Planning Commission) spoke on behalf of the Planning Commission and proposed to promote the development of the material industry by grasping three hairs. The three hairs are: silicon (monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon), tantalum titanium, synthetic diamond. At the same time, it is instructed to catch three hairs, not only to focus on things, but also to focus on politics. He said: How can we do this in such a big country, relying on imports and playing with it? Moreover, the people of the world revolution are watching us, others are asking us, and we are saying "no". There is a brother country that wants us 100 kilograms of monocrystalline silicon. Comrade Zhou Zijian can't agree, and Premier Zhou has nodded. It's too disappointing. He went on to say: These three hairs were first read by comrades, Comrade Qiuli, and Comrade Baohua. If you look at it, you must make up your mind and get to the bottom. In the 72-year plan, you will have to produce your results and publish a list of achievements. It is necessary to grasp the typical, sum up experience and comprehensively promote it. It is necessary to form a leading group, meet on time, and implement it at all levels. At the symposium, there was a machine representative Zhou Zijian, a representative from the Building Materials Bureau Bai Xiangyin, and representatives from the Ministry of Metallurgy and Henan Province.
After the meeting, in order to strengthen the leadership of one of the three hairs, synthetic diamond research, production and natural diamond production, under the auspices of Deputy Prime Minister Li Xiannian, the National Diamond Leading Group was established. At that time, Vice Minister Zhou Zijian was appointed as the leader of the team, and then the director of the Building Materials Bureau, Bai Xiangyin, was appointed as the deputy leader.
The National Diamond Leading Group has played an indelible historical role in China's development today as the world's largest producer of synthetic diamonds.
references:
1. Tao Zhizhi, cordial encouragement and care, Proceedings of the "China Superhard Materials Development Strategy Seminar" (Shenzhen, November 1993)
2. Wang Guangzu's development of China's superhard materials for 30 years (ibid.)
3. Xia Yaofeng and Yan Guanghui's development of China's superhard materials industry (ibid.)
4. Wu Jinshui, Xia Yaofeng, Zhengzhou Abrasives Grinding Research Institute (1958-1988)
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