Volume 1: Laying the Foundation Chapter 54: Nylon and Submarines

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  In the months before the departure of the main force, Chen Xiaoqi first launched a research result - Neoprene, and then quickly launched a second epoch-making product - Nylon 66. This steel-like high polymer not only proved the effectiveness of polymerization in practice but also opened up this discipline that has had a profound impact on later generations - Polymer Chemistry.

  Shortly after Chen Xiaoqi produced nylon in the laboratory, the industrial production equipment he produced was put on the market. The first batch of products, as expected, were snapped up by DuPont, which even offered a large sum of money to keep Chen's patented technology from being sold abroad for a period of time, just so they could take the lead in the industrial production of these two inventions and thoroughly occupy the largest markets in Europe and America.

  A series of invention patents following these two plans were realized through products, and those complex experimental equipment and production machinery began to be produced in mechanical processing plants. DuPont established the first two production plants, Chen Xiaoqi used the first batch of trial products to weave a 13-layer bulletproof vest, another heavy-duty bulletproof vest that can wrap around the neck, covering the entire torso, with gaps for inserting high-manganese steel plates, convenient for secondary expansion.

  This batch of bulletproof vests equipped all the members of the "Huaxia Revival Army" who went out to battle. Chen Xiaoqi sincerely hoped that each and every one of them could survive until the day of their victory, although it was very difficult, he had already made his greatest effort.

  To produce this nylon, in order to get the bulletproof vest out as soon as possible, he even put aside other work and specialized in studying the industrialization of every step achieved through chemical engineering, especially since the current "benzene" mainly comes from coal chemical technology. He had to spend a lot of money to dig up secondary chemical engineers from Germany, under his guidance, to make every step a reality on the product, if not for his understanding and learning in this life, what's the use of nylon?

  Nylon, as a revolutionary product, was destined to be a star from the day it was woven into stockings. Rich Americans needed it, fashionably dressed Europeans needed it, and even the Japanese who were becoming more Westernized needed it, despite their legs being short and stout, making them look awkward in nylon stockings.

  It's no longer necessary to describe the kind of crazy, explosive sales that ensued under Chen Xiaoqi's slogan "Every woman lacks a pair of stockings". Under the dark, lustful needs of countless shrinking men, stockings armed themselves onto the legs of every woman who thought herself young and beautiful at lightning speed. They brought in a tidal wave of glittering cash for Meihua and DuPont, to the point where Chen Xiaoqi really had no choice but to establish a bank to manage his increasingly massive business empire. Thus, the first batch of Jewish accountants and bank managers, as well as the first batch of overseas Chinese students, became employees of this new "Meihua Investment Bank". Stern Mr. Meite finally achieved his lifelong dream at the age of 30 - becoming a banker!

  Nylon products were sold all over the world, not just stockings, bulletproof vests first armed countless rich people, then the army and police, then more government security forces, and then important figures from all over the world.

  Nylon rope has become a must-have item in the toolbox of every vehicle, as only this fine and strong material can provide powerful pulling force with a small body, ensuring that a stranded car can be towed back to the repair factory as soon as possible, without having to carry heavy steel cables every time.

  There are also nylon 6 blended materials, which are more wear-resistant, waterproof, and have a better texture. They come in a wider range of colors and styles. When the first batch of blended material work uniforms were produced, their practical quality immediately attracted attention. Businessmen who had been keeping an eye on Meihua Group's every move quickly discovered the business opportunity and even changed police uniforms and military training uniforms to this material.

  With nylon, the mudguards behind all car tires were no longer stiff wooden or soft cowhide ones. This new material was undoubtedly more effective and could be made to look better too.

  New nylon cord tires were also born in the Mei Hua laboratory. This tire is more durable, using butadiene rubber as a material for synthesis, with a lower cost than natural rubber, higher strength and greater load-bearing capacity. In order to prevent Mei Hua Laboratory from entering the tire industry, Michelin and Pirelli reluctantly purchased the patent rights. Chen Xiaoqi took advantage of the situation to introduce an updated product - all-steel cord tires, which they also bought out, although they were told by Mei Hua that the production technology for this type of tire was too advanced and they could not provide effective equipment at present.

  Nylon-bristled toothbrushes are also available, which are easier to manufacture and polish than natural bristles, more hygienic and cheaper.

  Nylon nets, nylon shoes, nylon parts, nylon home appliance shells... Nylon, omnipotent.

  Nylon was a best-seller and the petrochemical by-products of Mobil Oil had found an outlet, turning waste into treasure and making a fortune.

  Nylon was a huge success, and DuPont Chemicals had a big smile on its face. They could create a new DuPont company just with this product and its derivative series, even if they didn't rely on fertilizers and explosives.

  DuPont strongly requested to collaborate with "MeiHua Laboratory" to establish a high polymer laboratory, jointly inviting influential chemists from all over the world to develop this emerging field. Chen Xiaoqi agreed and as the academic authority leader of the laboratory, he had the right to decide on personnel and also wanted a large share of stocks and dividends.

  Chen Xiaoqi brought the original inventor of nylon, Carothers, from the University of Illinois to his laboratory. In order to comfort Professor Adams' heart, he unintentionally gave some later professors of stereochemistry the results he had achieved himself, and led them to give guidance to the professor, forcing him to put his attention into new research work, achieving research results many years ahead of schedule.

  Riding on this huge wave of money, Chen Xiaoqi immediately acquired two small shipyards in Newport and brought back some shipbuilding equipment from Germany, especially large gantry cranes and warship manufacturing drawings - although incomplete, without the most needed battleship and submarine drawings, and all were pre-World War I designs, but those destroyer and cruiser, torpedo boat drawings had already made him overjoyed.

  Then, Chen Xiaoqi introduced two car and engine production lines from BMW, which had been banned from use and were being dismantled for sale. Originally, these production lines already belonged to someone else, but they couldn't withstand the joint efforts of many powerful departments, and the influence of a world-class financial giant still had an effect. Chen Xiaoqi got them, with the promise that he would absolutely not compete with them in these industries in the US and Europe.

  Then Chen Xiaoqi put down his chemical work and concentrated on shipbuilding, ordnance factories and heavy machinery. He stopped the construction of a 5,000-ton cargo ship and two 3,000-ton cargo ships that were half-built in the shipyard, then held a meeting with the engineering team, took out a stack of drawings, and directly ordered the bewildered engineers to start modifying them into the products he had in mind.

  Apart from this, a large number of overseas students sponsored by Chen Xiangqi began to enter various laboratories for internships and study. Dozens were assigned to the Metallurgical Laboratory cooperating with the United States Steel Corporation, dozens were allocated to DuPont's High Polymer Laboratory, dozens went to Mobil Oil Company's Petrochemical Laboratory, and dozens entered the newly established Ship Research Institute. They concentrated on absorbing and digesting the cheap and outdated design drawings brought from Germany over a decade ago, or even earlier. On this basis, combined with new high-strength ship steel plates, welding technology, steam turbine power, and high-power diesel engine power, they designed new hulls for faster, more robust warships, cargo ships, passenger ships, mail ships, oil tankers, chemical transport ships, and mineral transport ships.

  In addition, Chen Xiaoqi also established a new research department, the research target is to make a big splash in World War II, making the Allies helpless and suffering heavy losses - submarines!

  Chen Xiaoqi watched many submarine movies in another space-time, the most impressive ones include Germany's "From the Bottom of the Sea", Harrison Ford's "U-571", Steven Soderbergh's and many others. Among them, the one that left him with the deepest impression is still a legendary generation, the wolf pack at the bottom of the sea - U-boat.

  To build a classic submarine, Chen Xiaoqi directly gave the goal of no longer producing small black fish that need to float out and be shot at by others every day. The target is an AIP submarine with Stirling engine, large battery pack, diesel power, displacement of at least 600-1000 tons, and in the future reaching 2000 tons or more, until the production of the Kilo-class submarine known as the "Black Hole of the Ocean".

  This is a long-term plan that spans decades, even the development of U-boats, Chen Xiaoqi gave five years, because he knows that technological progress is not something that can be rushed, everything needs time to develop, it's not possible to just blow air and make it happen, he's not God, what he wants will magically appear.