Ubiquitous materials

Author: Xi Tonggen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: So That's How It Works, Bridging the Gap from Public Enlightenment to Public Understanding through Practice. Asking "Why" a Million Times and Telling You So. Since the mid-20th century, new technologies such as nuclear energy, computers, aerospace, and more have emerged endlessly, with ever-increasing demands for new materials. In recent years, people have realized that humanity has accumulated extensive knowledge about macroscopic objects and significant progress in understanding the microscopic world at the atomic-molecular scale due to advancements in modern physics. However, compared to the "just right" microscopic particle systems—those several times larger than atomic-molecular scales but much smaller than macroscopic objects, known as the "nanoworld"—research and utilization have been insufficient. As a result, the study and application of nanomaterials and devices have become a "hot topic." Nanotechnology is on the verge of a breakthrough in material science and technology. Throughout history, the Chinese people have made outstanding contributions to material technology. The Chinese were among the first to use magnetic materials to create compasses, and porcelain is widely recognized as a great invention of China. "The autumn wind and dew open the Yue kiln, capturing the emerald hues of a thousand peaks," exquisite Chinese porcelain was once exported to the four continents. China was one of the earliest countries to master copper and iron smelting. As early as the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the Chinese had relatively large-scale metal industries. It is believed that the blast furnace technology crucial to steel production was introduced from China to Europe. However, later, industrialization flourished in the West, advancing material science and technology, making them powerful nations with "strong ships and powerful guns," which then turned to invade China, subjecting us to over a century of humiliation. Today, our Chinese nation is undergoing a great revival. In recent years, the production of various materials such as steel, cement, and aluminum in our country has ranked among the world's . However, China is currently still a major producer of materials but not yet a powerhouse in material science. In terms of research and development of new materials and related theoretical studies, our overall level still lags behind advanced countries. We must continue to strive to develop material science and technology, working to promote the further prosperity and development of the national economy and high-tech industries.