When Liu Siying heard Zhang Zhen say this, she was very excited.

As a technician in a grassroots enterprise, she had never thought that she would have the opportunity to win such a national science and technology award. In fact, coming to receive the award this time was just a surprise to her. After all, when Xu Qiang was developing military batteries, she basically had no participation and could only be regarded as a spiritual support at most.

But this time, Liu Siying was more involved in the aramid paper project. She worked overtime for a whole month and a half and finally completed the task assigned to her by Xu Qiang. What Liu Siying didn't expect was that what she thought was just an ordinary research and development task gave her the opportunity to win the highest national science and technology award, which was something she never dreamed of.

"You have really worked hard this time, so I plan to let you rest for a while. After all, you are still in college and your studies are also very important," said Zhang Zhen.

"Minister Zhang, I don't think we need to rest." Xu Qiang said.

"Huh?" Zhang Zhen was stunned when he heard that. He didn't expect Xu Qiang to reject his kindness.

"That's right. Although we have successfully completed the research and development and production of aramid paper, in fact, through consulting the information, I found that foreign countries have already successfully developed the production and application of aramid long fibers. Compared with aramid paper, aramid cloth woven from long fibers has better performance in all aspects than aramid paper, and the cost is not much higher..."

The raw material of aramid paper is aramid fiber or aramid chopped fiber, while the raw material of aramid cloth is aramid fiber or aramid filament.

Aramid paper is made of aramid fiber or aramid chopped fiber as raw material, and is made into thinner paper on a machine through a papermaking process; while aramid cloth is a textile made of aramid fiber or aramid filament through a weaving process.

In terms of performance, aramid paper has good heat resistance, corrosion resistance, wear resistance and other properties, but its tensile strength and tear resistance are relatively poorer than aramid cloth. Aramid cloth is a high-strength textile with excellent high temperature resistance, chemical resistance and impact resistance, but its manufacturing cost is relatively high.

In addition, aramid paper is mainly used as thermal insulation, protection and reinforcement materials in the fields of electricity, chemical industry, shipbuilding, automobiles, aircraft, etc., while aramid cloth is widely used in bulletproof vests, high temperature protection, aircraft and automobile manufacturing, nuclear power plant equipment and other fields.

Xu Qiang initially wanted to use aramid 1414 to make aramid paper. Although it can also be used as bulletproof vests, its performance is inferior to aramid cloth. Aramid paper can also be produced with aramid 1313, which costs less and has lower technical difficulty.

"You want to develop aramid cloth?" Zhang Zhen's eyes suddenly lit up when he heard that.

Zhang Zhen is a chemical expert himself. He knows that compared with aramid paper, the research and development of aramid cloth is more difficult than one level higher. In his opinion, it is almost impossible to produce long-fiber aramid with current domestic industrial technology.

But since Xu Qiang wanted to engage in research in this area, he was naturally very happy. After all, Xu Qiang had already developed aramid paper. If there was anyone in the country who had the greatest hope of making a breakthrough in the production technology of aramid cloth, it would probably be Xu Qiang.

"Yes, but this project is very difficult. It is definitely not as easy as aramid paper. I hope the department can give me enough time and support to let me do theoretical research first. In this way, if I have enough theoretical accumulation, I may be able to carry out this project..." Xu Qiang said.

Xu Qiang volunteered to engage in the research and development of aramid long fibers because he had his own purpose.

Since the end of the aramid paper project, Xu Qiang's project team was immediately disbanded. Although the Ministry of First Machine Building still allowed him and Liu Siying and others to continue living in the faculty dormitory building of the School of Mechanical Engineering, they were no longer allowed to use the equipment in the chemical laboratory, and there was no longer any relevant cooperative unit to cooperate with them.

This is absolutely impossible for Xu Qiang. A chemical expert without a laboratory and chemical raw materials is like a soldier without a gun. Even though Xu Qiang had just been reborn into this world not long ago, he built a simple laboratory at his own expense. But now, he can't do anything, and it is even more impossible for him to develop new products.

However, if he can continue to undertake such national key scientific research projects, he will be able to continue to enjoy free laboratories and raw materials, and at the same time he will enjoy some privileges and require relevant units to cooperate. Therefore, in order to obtain these privileges, Xu Qiang must take the initiative to undertake some projects.

As for the aramid long fiber project, it is actually quite difficult. With the current domestic industrial level and material technology, it is still difficult to make equipment for mass production. Therefore, Xu Qiang suggested that theoretical research could be done first. In this way, at least the chemical laboratory could be used in the future.

"Sure!" Zhang Zhen replied straightforwardly, "You can do theoretical research first, and when the time is right, I will officially approve the project for you."

"But the problem is that I don't have any chemical laboratory available. Before, when we cooperated with the First Ministry of Machine Building, we used the chemical laboratory of their affiliated college. But after the project ended, I no longer have the right to use it." Xu Qiang paused and continued, "In fact, I think our Fifth Ministry of Machine Building can open a chemical research institute in Shanghai. In this way, I can work in Shanghai without having to look at the First Ministry of Machine Building's attitude..."

Xu Qiang's original intention was to stay in Shanghai for a long time. If the Fifth Ministry of Machine Building could set up a Chemical Engineering Research Institute in Shanghai City, he could stay there to work in the future and also make use of the various equipment and resources of the Fifth Ministry of Machine Building.

"Haha, that's impossible." Zhang Zhen smiled and continued, "Our scientific research institutes can't be built just like that. From planning to construction, it takes a long time and there are many issues to consider. We have to hold meetings repeatedly to discuss feasibility, military needs and social benefits, personnel allocation, etc. It's not a simple matter..."

"Oh, I see." Xu Qiang nodded when he heard that.

In fact, Xu Qiang knew in his heart that his request was indeed a bit "excessive". After all, opening a research institute is not a trivial matter. There are many things to consider. In addition to land, funds and equipment, there are also issues such as the allocation and staffing of technical personnel. Moreover, with the current efficiency of government departments, it is estimated that it will take a long time.

As early as the 1960s, the Fifth Ministry of Machine Building had an organic chemical research institute in Shanghai, but it only had research capabilities but no production capabilities, and was unable to provide products. In the 1970s, the institute moved out of Shanghai.

"I'll talk to the First Ministry of Machine Building later, and they will definitely agree that you can continue to use the school's chemical laboratory. In addition, if you have any needs in the future, you can also directly contact the First Ministry of Machine Building's Shanghai office, and they can also provide assistance." Zhang Zhen said. "Okay." Xu Qiang nodded when he heard it.

In any case, at least Xu Qiang had a laboratory to use when he returned to Shanghai, so he could develop some new products. Otherwise, no matter how rich he was, he would not be able to buy many equipment and raw materials. After all, this was the era of planned economy.

"There's one more thing I want to talk to you about..."

"Bang bang bang!"

Before Zhang Zhen finished speaking, there was a knock on the door and Secretary Wang appeared at the office door.

"whats the matter?"

"Minister Zhang, Professor Xu's project team members have all arrived and are waiting for you in the conference room," said Secretary Wang.

"I'll be there right away."

"Okay." Secretary Wang said, turned around and left through the door.

"Minister Zhang, you are busy." Seeing this, Xu Qiang gave Liu Siying a look, stood up and was about to leave.

"Wait a minute..." Zhang Zhen frowned and said, "I have something else to tell you... How about this, you also come to this meeting, it's all about chemical projects anyway, it's good to get to know more colleagues."

"Well... okay." Xu Qiang nodded and agreed after hearing this.

Afterwards, Xu Qiang and Liu Siying followed Zhang Zhen and went to the conference room on the third floor.

As soon as they entered the meeting room, everyone stood up immediately when they saw Zhang Zhen coming.

When Xu Qiang and Liu Siying saw the people in the conference room, they couldn't help but be stunned.

It turned out that everyone inside was wearing white shirts and black pants. Some of them had dark circles under their eyes and looked a little listless, as if they were sleep deprived.

"Please sit down." Seeing this, Zhang Zhen motioned for them to sit down.

At this time, Xu Qiang and Liu Siying also found a seat in a corner and sat down.

"Xiao Guo, how is Professor Xu today?" Zhang Zhen, who was sitting in the middle seat, glanced at a middle-aged man in his thirties opposite him and asked with concern.

"Teacher, he is still in a coma, but his life is not in danger. The doctor has performed an eye cleaning operation on him and removed the blood clots in his left eye socket..." said the middle-aged man surnamed Guo.

Hearing this, Xu Qiang and Liu Siying were shocked. They never expected to hear such a bloody thing here.

"Ah..." Zhang Zhen sighed and said, "Professor Xu is an outstanding military explosives expert in our country. I didn't expect such a serious accident to happen this time... You guys have worked hard these days. In addition to taking care of the wounded, you also have to help comfort their families. It's not easy..."

"This is what we should do." said the middle-aged man surnamed Guo.

This middle-aged man surnamed Guo, whose real name is Guo Rui, is a student of Xu Yuanming and a core member of the 8702 project.

The day before yesterday, Zhang Zhen went to the hospital to check on the situation, talked with Guo Rui for a few words, and asked him to take good care of other injured people in the accident, while also helping to comfort their families.

Judging from Guo Rui's resume, he was not the student who had followed Xu Yuanming for the longest time, but he was Xu Yuanming's most trusted disciple.

Guo Rui had participated in several of Xu Yuanming's research projects before, and following his master, he once won the first prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award. Such an impressive resume is also very proud among many domestic explosives experts... (End of this chapter)