Chapter 56: First Steps into Materials Science

There are simply too many types of materials to count.
However, if one were to classify them by their physical and chemical properties, they could be broadly divided into metallic materials, inorganic non-metallic materials, and polymeric materials.
Alternatively, from the perspective of their usage, there are categories such as electronic materials, materials for aerospace, nuclear materials, construction materials, energy materials, biomedical materials, and so on.
The sheer abundance of material types left Lu Yu feeling overwhelmed, unsure where to even begin.
After all, his academic background had nothing to do with materials science.
He had never really looked into the current state of the basic materials industry before.
It was only after researching it now that he realized, although the country’s manufacturing industry had been ranked first in the world since 2010, and major breakthroughs had been made in areas such as manned spaceflight and high-speed rail, leading the world in several fields,
yet overall, 32% of key materials remained entirely undeveloped domestically, and 52% were still reliant on imports.
The vast majority of general-purpose processors for computers and servers, 95% of high-end specialized chips, over 70% of intelligent terminal processors, and almost all memory chips were imported.
In the field of equipment manufacturing, over 95% of manufacturing and testing equipment for advanced CNC machine tools, high-end instruments, carrier rockets, large aircraft, aviation engines, automobiles, and other critical precision machining production lines were imported.
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All of this stemmed from the lag in basic materials research and industrial production systems.
Take, for example, the “microcrystalline screen backbone” microspheres: the domestic manufacturing technology was advanced, but the impurities in domestic raw materials affected the microsphere’s performance, so imports were necessary.
Or, for the ITO targets used in producing LCD screens: domestic quality was unstable and the materials failed to meet standards, so imports were again required.
Or for the aviation-grade steel used in domestically produced large aircraft: the issue was still with the materials, as ultra-high-strength steel lacked sufficient purity and had to be imported from the Lighthouse Country.
But it wasn’t just a matter of materials; processing techniques posed another major problem.
For example, in the manufacture of high-end machine tools, the core—such as the CNC system—except for the controller, all major functional components of domestically produced machine tools like ball screws, guide rails, servo motors, torque motors, electric spindles, and encoders relied on foreign products.
These were all gaps in basic materials, processing techniques, and design.
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Everyone knows that lithography machines are necessary for chip manufacturing, and that the Dutch company ASML has long held a monopoly.
But the lithography machine is not produced solely by ASML; it's a collective masterpiece of the world’s top technologies, hailed as the “jewel in the crown of human industry.”
It is a device that brings together the pinnacle of mathematics, optics, fluid mechanics, polymer physics and chemistry, surface physics and chemistry, precision instruments, machinery, automation, software, and more.
A lithography machine requires a top-tier light source and extreme mechanical precision, for which more than 100,000 parts are needed—whereas an average car contains about 5,000.
Its lenses employ Zeiss technology, the result of centuries of German expertise in lens grinding and polishing.
Special composite materials come from Neon Country, industrial precision machine tools from Sweden, and the Lighthouse Country provides the control software and power supplies.
In short, not a single country in the world can manufacture the most advanced lithography machines on its own.
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Reading all this, Lu Yu frowned, realizing things were not as he had imagined.
His original plan had been to establish a research institute, research basic materials, and then license the results to domestic manufacturers for production, collecting patent fees for himself.
It was a fine plan in theory, but now it seemed highly likely that even if he developed some new materials and licensed them to domestic companies, and they managed to produce them, the high-end precision processing would still have to be outsourced to foreign manufacturers.
In this back-and-forth, wouldn’t it just become a situation where foreign companies bought domestic basic materials, processed them with high-precision technology, and then sold them back domestically at a high price? In effect, letting foreigners profit off their own work?
And in the future, if he himself needed high-precision components, he’d be paying that premium too?
But that wasn’t even the key issue. The most crucial problem was the enormous funding required to establish a research institute.
Researching these basic materials would require massive investments.
Yet, if most basic materials could only be monetized through patent licensing, it was likely that the research costs would never be recovered.
Even if he could guide and subtly provide ideas for development, he couldn’t make it too obvious, could he?
The necessary investments would still have to be made.
To invest so much and not recoup it—wouldn’t that be burning oneself for the sake of enlightenment, only to release light and heat for others?
Lu Yu didn’t consider himself so noble.
Besides, when it came to matters at home, well, sometimes it wasn’t a matter of having advanced materials—no one was obligated to adopt them.
Without certain social resources and connections, who would care about you?
You could be holding cutting-edge materials technology, and even if you went out of your way to offer it, others might not even give you the time of day. That’s just how things work in a society run on relationships.
Even if the issue of basic materials was resolved, there were still the problems of processing technology and real-world promotion to contend with.

Lu Yu scratched his head in mild frustration.
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But soon, he set these troubles aside for the moment.
After all, these were just his own conclusions from researching as an outsider to the field of materials science.
To truly understand, he would have to study materials science itself.
Whatever the issue, the first step was always to learn, and then solutions would follow.
Lu Yu gathered himself and set off for the Shudu Library, embarking on another phase of study.
He took the subway to the library, found the materials science section, picked out some foundational textbooks, and immersed himself in reading.
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He left the library at five, borrowing a few more books.
On the subway, Lu Yu hesitated, but ultimately chose to go to his home near Shu Yin University.
He couldn’t really blame himself for this; all he wanted was a few quiet days to study materials science diligently.
He really didn’t dare go back to where Shi Zixuan and Qin Xiaomian were staying.
It wasn’t that he lacked resolve—it was that the opposition was too cunning, their charms too overwhelming.
Comrade Lu Yu couldn’t afford to let down his guard!
History is full of such lessons: those who lose themselves in the pursuit of women always come to a bad end.
Just look at so-and-so, and so-and-so—didn’t things turn out badly for them because they indulged in such weaknesses?
Right?
So, to those classmates obsessed with watching dance videos of pretty girls, or “educational” films about the origins of life, let your coach offer a heartfelt piece of advice:
You can learn anything!
But never learn to be obsessed with women!
Give those videos to your coach for safekeeping and critical review.
You’re still young—don’t throw yourself into that pit just yet.
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Lu Yu returned home to his place near Shu Yin University, burdened with books.
Zhang Kexin and Qianqian were probably at school, not practicing the piano at home.
He’d heard from Chen Xiaofei that the two of them had signed up for some kind of master class in music for the summer, but who knew if it was useful?
He put his book-filled backpack in his room and went downstairs to grab dinner at one of the eateries on the local snack street.
After dinner, he wandered around the street, bought a lot of fruit, and planned to put it in the refrigerator at home.
When he returned, one light was left on in the living room; he went to his room and settled in at his little desk to read.
Around seven in the evening, Zhang Kexin and Qianqian came over from school to practice piano and noticed the living room light was on.
Seeing the light in Lu Yu’s room, they guessed he was back and knocked on his door.
Zhang Kexin called out, “Hey, Lu, is that you?”
Lu Yu opened the door with a book in hand, looking at the two of them. “Who else could it be?”
Zhang Kexin pouted. “How do I know it’s you? Besides, we’re two delicate girls—if someone suddenly shows up at home, of course we have to be careful.”
Lu Yu replied, “That’s a good point. I have nothing to say to that.”
Zhang Kexin continued, “Hey, what have you been up to lately? Haven’t seen you in a while.”
Lu Yu answered, “Hanging out with two lovely ladies.”
Zhang Kexin snorted and pulled Qianqian toward the piano room.
“Whatever. Go amuse yourself.”
Lu Yu simply closed the door and went back to his reading, faintly hearing the two women practicing piano until around ten, when they left.
Lu Yu read until after midnight before going to bed.
He got up just after eight the next morning, washed up, went downstairs for breakfast, and hurried back to the library.

Returning, reading, borrowing books—the days slipped by quickly in this routine.
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The day before, Lu Yu had borrowed a stack of books, planning to spend today studying at home instead of the library.
He decided to switch things up instead of spending every day in the same posture.
Just as he was settling in to study, Zhang Kexin and Qianqian came down from the attic, apparently heading off to class.
Zhang Kexin spotted him. “Hey Lu, not going out today?”
Without looking at her, Lu Yu replied, “No, I’m staying in and reading today.”
Zhang Kexin said, “Then wait for us at lunch and treat us to a meal.”
With that, she dragged Qianqian out the door.
Lu Yu lost track of time that morning, only realizing it was noon when Zhang Kexin and Qianqian knocked on his door.
“Hey Lu, time to treat us to lunch,” Zhang Kexin called.
Lu Yu opened the door and leaned against the frame, eyeing her with curiosity.
“By rights, since you use my piano room, shouldn’t you be the one treating me?”
Zhang Kexin glared at him. “What are you thinking? Plenty of people would love to treat us, and we still wouldn’t go.”
“And besides, is it such a hardship for you to treat two beautiful, charming ladies to lunch?”
Qianqian watched the banter between them, laughing softly.
Lu Yu opened his mouth, but after a moment failed to find a retort, so he simply called Chen Xiaofei on speaker.
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The call connected, and Chen Xiaofei’s voice came through. “What’s up, Lu?”
Lu Yu looked at Zhang Kexin. “Your friend Zhang Kexin is trying to scam me.”
Zhang Kexin’s eyes grew even wider, while Chen Xiaofei chuckled.
“Well now, this is new. Tell me, how’s she scamming you?”
Lu Yu said, “She’s using my piano room without even saying thanks, and now she wants me to buy her lunch—just because I got her some face masks.”
Chen Xiaofei laughed heartily, then suddenly remembered something.
“Ha! Oh, right, you reminded me. The face masks I got from you last time—my mom’s already used them up. And you know, when it comes to my mom, it’s never just her, it’s my aunts, cousins, and all their friends. Your face masks are impossible to get now. Bring me some more this afternoon, will you?”
Lu Yu rolled his eyes. “Tsk, you and Zhang Kexin really are a match! If you want them, drive over yourself. I don’t do home delivery.”
Chen Xiaofei replied, “Fine! Cheapskate!”
“Just wait, I’ll be there in half an hour to treat you all to a feast. Order whatever you want—if you go easy on me, you’re not giving me face.”
He hung up after that, and Lu Yu put away his phone and told Zhang Kexin,
“You heard him. Order whatever you want—don’t hold back, or you’re disrespecting me.”
Zhang Kexin squinted, gritting her teeth, taking deep breaths, feeling an odd pang in her chest.
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Qianqian gently pulled the fuming Zhang Kexin back to the living room.
Lu Yu put his books away and came out to the living room, took a sand pear from the fridge, washed it, and found a lounge chair opposite Zhang Kexin to eat it comfortably—if only to annoy her.
Zhang Kexin’s chest hurt even more, and she shouted in outrage, “Lu, don’t push your luck!”
Lu Yu looked at her, baffled. “What did I do? How am I pushing my luck?”
Zhang Kexin was at a loss for words, unable to retort after a long pause.
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