162: Chapter 162 This experiment could cause a heart attack!

Experimental workshop, 3:00 AM.

The air was filled with a faint scent of scorched metal.

Zhou Fan stared at the observation window of the constant-temperature test chamber, his fingertips tapping unconsciously on the edge of the console.

Inside the chamber, the composite ceramic bearing, wrapped in a carbon fiber "armor," was undergoing a hellish trial.

This was a high-frequency vibration environment simulating 72 hours of continuous operation of a lithography machine, with amplitude controlled at the 0.1-nanometer level and temperature fluctuations precise to ± 0.05 ℃.

"It's been 68 hours." He Xingwei's hand holding the thermos trembled slightly, and his voice was a bit hoarse.

"The vibration frequency is stable at 1.2 kHz, and the radial runout value is 0.04 nanometers, 30% lower than the design threshold."

Li Hui suddenly pointed at the real-time monitoring screen: "Wait, the readings from the third set of stress sensors are a bit abnormal!"

The curve on the screen representing the interface between the ceramic and the carbon fiber suddenly showed a slight glitch; although it was fleeting, it made everyone's heart jump into their throats.

Zhou Fan immediately pulled up the 3D model; a red stress concentration point flickered like a spark on the inner wall of the bearing.

"It's a micro-stress release caused by uneven coating thickness." Zhou Fan quickly dragged the mouse, magnifying the area by two hundred times, then said in a deep voice, "Increase the inert gas injection by 15% and lower the oxygen partial pressure in the chamber."

The researcher at the console moved so fast that their hands were a blur, and the high-pressure nitrogen pipes hissed as they released pressure.

Three minutes later, the glitch indeed smoothed out, and the test curve became as docile as silk again.

"Mr. Zhou's prediction was simply god-like!" The young researcher wiped off cold sweat; their work uniform was already soaked through on the back.

The old engineer beside him sighed, looking at Zhou Fan with a hint of admiration: "That's not just a prediction; it's because he has chewed up and digested the material properties into his very bones. Didn't you see how many documents he pored over in the material library last night?"

"It's too thrilling, this experiment... it could practically give someone a heart attack..."

"Hang in there, only a few hours left!"

"..." Voices rose involuntarily from all directions in the tense atmosphere.

Zhou Fan had no mind to listen to these discussions; his gaze fell on the observation window.

Through the double-layered anti-radiation glass, one could see a strange blue glow on the bearing's surface; the ceramic crystals were producing Rayleigh scattering under the high-frequency vibration.

He had seen this phenomenon countless times in Room-Temperature Superconductivity experiments; it was beautiful and enchanting. Perhaps this was the charm of scientific research!

It was almost impossible for an ordinary person to see this phenomenon in their entire lifetime!

"Two hours until the chamber is opened for inspection."

Zhou Fan glanced at the timer. "Director He, have the precision inspection team stand by early; prepare to conduct ultrasonic flaw detection and atomic force microscopy scanning simultaneously."

Just as He Xingwei was about to respond, the test chamber suddenly emitted a harsh alarm!

The red warning lights flashed frantically, and the temperature curve on the console screen soared suddenly like a snake that had been stepped on.

The local temperature inside the chamber instantly broke through 80 ℃, far exceeding the safety threshold of 55 ℃!

"What's going on?" Li Hui slammed his hand toward the emergency stop button, but Zhou Fan pressed his hand down.

"Don't stop it!" Zhou Fan stared fixedly at the vibration frequency curve.

"It's a resonance point drift! Immediately cut off vibration source No. 3 and increase the cooling water flow rate to 1.2 L/min!"

His voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable penetrative power.

The researcher at the controls did as told instinctively, their fingers trembling violently from nervousness, nearly pressing the wrong button several times.

Ten seconds later, the temperature curve screeched to a halt at 78 ℃ and slowly began to drop.

"That moment just now..." He Xingwei's thermos nearly dropped to the floor, his voice trembling slightly. "The ceramic didn't crack?"

Zhou Fan didn't answer; he pulled up the infrared thermal imaging map.

The temperature distribution on the bearing's surface looked like an abstract painting, with only the area where the carbon fiber weave was densest maintaining a uniform warm color, as if wrapping the ceramic in a thermal blanket.

"The axial thermal conductivity of the carbon fiber did its job."

Zhou Fan let out a long sigh of relief, his own shirt soaked through with cold sweat. "The gradient coating not only enhanced the bonding strength but also formed micro-heat dissipation channels."

These words shot through the crowd like an electric current; the previously frozen researchers looked at each other, then suddenly erupted into suppressed cheers.

In that moment just now, anyone with a weak heart really could have just passed away.

The moment the 72-hour countdown hit zero, the test chamber emitted a long sound of pressure release.

When the metallic-lustered bearing was carefully removed by the robotic arm, everyone crowded around.

The engineer from the precision inspection team held the ultrasonic detector; the moment the probe touched the bearing surface, they let out an "Oh?": "Internal structural integrity is 99.97%; no micro-cracks detected!"

Even more exciting news followed.

The atomic force microscopy scanning results also came out quickly.

"Surface roughness of 0.012 nanometers? This precision is three orders of magnitude higher than imported bearings!"

As soon as the words fell, there was silence all around.

Then, voices suppressed with excitement suddenly erupted.

"This data... it's even more impressive than imported special alloys!"

"It's unbelievable, this is actually a ceramic material..."

"I always thought that the fragility of ceramics could never compare to special alloys, but I didn't expect..."

"Mr. Zhou is simply amazing, to be able to create such a material!!!"

"..."

Everyone's eyes were filled with fervor as they looked at the focus of the room.

Zhou Fan picked up the bearing and held it up to the light; the translucent ceramic was embedded with the dark patterns of carbon fiber, like a solidified starry sky.

Precision items often possess a stunning beauty that leaves people in awe.

This bearing was undoubtedly such an object...

"Notify the assembly team to prepare for full-machine system debugging; I want to see the first 45nm chip's lithography pattern within 24 hours!"

He Xingwei suddenly grabbed his arm, his knuckles turning white from the force: "Won't you rest for a while? You haven't closed your eyes for three days!"

Zhou Fan smiled and pried his hand off; the red bloodshot eyes at the corners of his eyes looked like a dense web. "When I see the chip pattern, I'll sleep for three days and three nights."

He paused and looked at the sky outside the window, which was beginning to turn a pale white.

Others could afford to wait, but Fanmi Technology could not; the breakthrough of the 45nm Lithography Machine was imperative...

Just as he finished speaking, Yang Tian walked over quickly, holding an encrypted communicator.

Zhou Fan's heart suddenly tightened; this guy never seemed to bring good news...

Yang Tian seemed to know this as well, his expression complex: "Mr. Zhou, Loongson International just sent a message saying that the West has increased the pressure again. If they dare to accept our OEM orders, they will permanently terminate all maintenance authorization for EUV equipment."

The atmosphere, which had been full of joy, instantly froze.

He Xingwei and Li Hui's gazes involuntarily turned toward Zhou Fan.

"Tell Mr. Shi that we don't need their OEM services anymore. In at most half a month, our own lithography machine mass production line will be ready to be assembled!" Zhou Fan said with a smile.

"What did you say? A mass production line?" These words were like a thunderbolt thrown into a lake, shocking Yang Tian.

"The 45nm lithography workshop I asked you to coordinate and build half a month ago—it should be almost finished with the renovations, right?" Zhou Fan didn't answer but looked at Li Hui.

"Everything is ready. Once the prototype here finishes testing, we can immediately proceed with the renovation and assembly. Within half a month... although it will be a bit difficult, getting the first production line up and running shouldn't be a problem!!!" Li Hui's tone carried a hint of excitement.

"Alright, let's get to work!"

"Yes!!!"

"..."

"Is it really that fast..." Yang Tian looked at Zhou Fan, stunned.

The morning light cut obliquely through the tall glass windows, casting a long shadow.

At this moment, he finally understood.

Why the file he received used the word "monster" several times to describe Zhou Fan...