"Young Master, you're finally here!"
The Odd Interest Pavilion's new workshop in Plum Village finally welcomed its new owner today. Speaking of which, Li Zexuan really wasn't qualified to be the boss at all. From the beginning to the end, he hadn't asked about the expansion of the workshop at all. He had given full authority to Uncle Fu. Moreover, after the new factory was built, he hadn't come to visit at all. Therefore, when Uncle Fu saw Li Zexuan suddenly show up in the afternoon, he was both resentful and surprised.
Li Zexuan looked slightly embarrassed. Obviously, he understood the meaning behind Faubert's words. "Ahem, Faubert, long time no see! How have you been lately? "
Faubert looked at Li Zexuan and sighed helplessly. He knew that Li Zexuan had been busy recently, so he did not blame him too much. Moreover, Li Zexuan had always been very respectful to the elders in the workshop. Therefore, Faubert had always treated Li Zexuan as his junior. "Young Master, thank you for your concern. I'm still in good health and can help you manage the workshop for another two years!"
Faubert led Li Zexuan into the workshop and answered Li Zexuan's question at the same time.
After hearing this, Li Zexuan frowned. He suddenly remembered that Faubert was getting on in years. Even if he was healthy, he could only work in the workshop for another two or three years. Who would take over at that time? Who would be the one to carry this burden?
Successor, successor, I have to look out for a successor for Faubert from now on!
Li Zexuan sighed in his heart.
Curious Pavilion's new workshop occupied a large area of about 100 mu, which was dozens of times larger than the workshop in Chang 'an. According to the different functions and types of products produced, the workshop was divided into ten areas. The production area had a large factory building similar to the ones in modern times, the office area had an office building, and the living area had a dormitory. It could be said that this new workshop covered all the elements and could be considered the most comprehensive workshop in the entire Tang Dynasty.
"Oh, by the way, Young Master, why did you ask people to bring in so many barrels of white pulp yesterday? Our warehouse is about to be filled with those things! "
Faubert had planned to take Li Zexuan to the office area to rest for a while. Halfway there, he suddenly remembered the thousands of barrels of white pulp that the Wang Family's fleet had delivered yesterday, so he turned his head and asked.
Li Zexuan smiled and said, "That stuff is called rubber, and it's very precious! So much rubber, it should be worth more than our workshop! Don't worry, didn't I come here today to teach you how to use it? "
Faubert heard this and felt a little incredulous. He had heard from other sources that Li Zexuan had bought the rubber for a total of 8,000 strings of coins. Even if the rubber could bring ten times the profit to the workshop, it was only 80,000 strings of coins. How could it be more valuable than the entire workshop?
"That's great! This old man wants to see what this stuff that looks like soy milk can be used for. "
Seeing how confident Li Zexuan was, Faubert still wanted to take a look even though he didn't believe it from the bottom of his heart.
"Hehe! Then let's go to the workshop next door. Faubert, get someone to bring a barrel of rubber over! Oh, and bring a big pot of white vinegar as well! "
Li Zexuan pointed to the large factory building next to them and said to Faubert.
"Mm, okay!"
Although Faubert was puzzled as to why Li Zexuan wanted vinegar, it wasn't convenient for him to ask. Thus, he ordered his subordinates to do as they were told.
…
After a while, all the items were ready. Faubert even brought a few old craftsmen from the workshop to observe from the side.
"Song Xiaosi, Pang Feiji, pour this barrel of rubber into the stone trough!"
Li Zexuan pointed to the rectangular stone trough in front of him and ordered Song Xiaosi and Pang Feiji behind him.
This stone trough was originally used for annealing when the blacksmith was forging. However, due to the urgency of the situation, Li Zexuan couldn't find a more suitable container.
"Yes, Young Master!"
Song Xiaosi responded and quickly lifted the barrel full of rubber with Pang Feiji. The white rubber latex immediately poured into the trough. This stuff looked as thin as soy milk. It was no wonder that Faubert couldn't think of a use for it.
"Mm, pour the whole pot of vinegar in!"
Li Zexuan weighed the pot of white vinegar in his hand and ordered.
A very important process for the extraction of rubber latex was the solidification process. In the modern rubber latex solidification process, the most commonly used solidifying agents were formic acid and acetic acid.
Formic acid and acetic acid could increase the hydrogen ion content in the latex, thus lowering the pH value of the latex, compressing the electric double layer, and thinning the hydration film. When it reached the isoelectric point of the protein, the electromotive potential would be zero, and there would be no repulsion between the rubber particles. They would gather together and solidify into a block.
In the 21st century, most foreign countries used formic acid as the solidifying agent, while domestic companies mainly used acetic acid as the solidifying agent. Depending on the specific acid used, the properties of the rubber would be different. Li Zexuan had learned all of this from his rich classmate's family's factory in his previous life. Otherwise, how could he have known all of this?
In the Tang Dynasty, formic acid definitely didn't exist, but acetic acid did! This was because the so-called acetic acid had a very common name, and that was acetic acid. Vinegar contained a large amount of acetic acid! This was all thanks to the wisdom of our ancestors, who invented vinegar. Otherwise, Li Zexuan would still be making vinegar.
"The two of you, go get two hoe handles and wash them with hot water. Then, bring them over and stir them vigorously!"
Li Zexuan quickly ordered.
Song Xiaosi and Pang Feiji obeyed and left. After a while, the two of them each carried a smooth hoe handle and walked in. Under Li Zexuan's demonstration, they began to use the sticks to stir in the stone trough.
"Hey, hey, hey, Master! It's solidified, it's solidified! It was like soy milk just now, but now it's turned into tofu! "
After stirring for about half an hour, Pang Feiji suddenly shouted in surprise.
"It's really turned into tofu! Come and see!"
Song Xiaosi was also very excited.
Without needing him to say anything, Faubert and the rest of the craftsmen had already rushed over. Seeing that the rubberized latex had turned into tofu, Faubert could not help but click his tongue in wonder.
"Hey! This is really strange! Isn't it just pouring a pot of vinegar into it? How did all the rubber solidify? "
"Yeah! This is too strange, it's like a magic trick! If I didn't see it with my own eyes, it would be really hard to believe! "
The rest of the craftsmen were also very shocked. They had never learned about chemical reactions, so they could only categorize it as a magic trick.
…
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