According to Chinese media, citing a report by Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post on January 7, Chinese astronauts have been conducting an experiment on the “Tiangong” space station for over three years. This experiment, which may seem ordinary but is in fact considered “impossible,” involves using lasers to illuminate alloy particles suspended in a vacuum chamber, closely observing the particles, and recording their subtle changes during the cooling process. Utilizing experimental data obtained in space, Chinese scientists on Earth have successfully manufactured niobium alloys that meet strict industrial standards for the first time. This breakthrough could potentially revolutionize aerospace technology.
Experts note that if these findings can facilitate the mass production of niobium alloys, China will gain a significant advantage in the fields of military and high-end manufacturing. In the past, the United States invoked the infamous “Wolf Amendment” to prohibit U.S.-China space cooperation, excluding China from participation in the International Space Station (ISS). Now, China has independently forged its own path, establishing itself in the realm of space station development.
One expert observed the situation and remarked, “This demonstrates how crucial it is for a nation to have its own space station.”
Niobium alloy turbine blades are reported to withstand temperatures exceeding 1,700°C. This material is lighter than commonly used nickel or titanium alloys and offers three times the compressive strength at high temperatures. As a result, engines made from this material could achieve unprecedented speeds and operational efficiency.
However, niobium alloys have two major flaws that hinder mass production: the growth of high-strength crystals is extremely slow, requiring nearly 100 hours at 1,600°C, and the resulting samples are highly brittle at room temperature, making them unsuitable for engine manufacturing requirements.
These challenges have now been addressed by a team led by Wei Bingbo, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and professor at the School of Physical Science and Technology at Northwestern Polytechnical University. The team developed a new rapid cooling method, achieving a production speed of nearly 9 cm/s for high-quality niobium-silicon crystals. Additionally, by adding trace amounts of hafnium, they increased the alloy’s room-temperature strength by more than threefold, meeting the demands of engine assembly lines.
“Improving fracture toughness is crucial for the industrial application of niobium-silicon-based alloys,” wrote Wei Bingbo and his colleagues in a peer-reviewed paper published on December 27 in Acta Physica Sinica, a journal run by the Chinese Physical Society.
Niobium is a rare metal, and China is currently the world’s largest consumer of niobium, primarily for manufacturing high-performance steel. However, China’s niobium reserves account for less than 1% of the global total, while Brazil, another BRICS nation, produces nearly 90% of the world’s niobium. Brazil is also one of China’s key ore suppliers.
South China Morning Post noted that Northwestern Polytechnical University, known for its expertise in cutting-edge technologies like hypersonic aircraft, has faced strict sanctions from the United States, including cyberattacks by the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA). In response, China has increased its support for the university. Since 2021, Wei Bingbo’s team has been granted the opportunity to conduct experimental research aboard China’s space station.
Thanks to the microgravity environment, Chinese scientists observed unprecedented phenomena, including unique shrinkage structures formed during the rapid solidification of alloys and crystal growth patterns that differ entirely from ground-based experiments. These fundamental scientific discoveries enabled Wei’s team to gain deeper insights into the physical properties of niobium alloys, driving the development of more practical and efficient preparation methods.
“This is a gift from the heavens,” said a Beijing-based materials scientist not involved in the research. “It’s hard to imagine a team gaining access to such extensive resources and persisting for so long in conducting such challenging experiments in space. If niobium alloys can be mass-produced in the future, this will grant China a substantial advantage in the fields of military and high-end manufacturing.”
The scientist added, “This proves how vital it is for a nation to have its own space station.”
The South China Morning Post explained that while the International Space Station is larger than China’s “Tiangong,” it prohibits military-related research and requires member nations to share research findings. Years ago, China applied to join the ISS.
However, when the ISS was jointly constructed by 16 nations, including the U.S., Russia, and Japan, in 1998, China was excluded due to a “space embargo,” citing political, financial, and technical reasons. In 2011, the U.S. passed the “Wolf Amendment,” proposed by then-Congressman Frank Rudolph Wolf, to ban U.S.-China space cooperation, citing so-called “espionage risks,” effectively barring China’s participation in ISS collaboration.
Faced with the U.S. “space embargo,” China pursued independence, carving its own path in space station development. As widely known, the “Tiangong” space station, now a national-level space laboratory, has brought many benefits and conveniences to China.
Today, the Chinese space station orbits in space, while the International Space Station faces aging and safety concerns such as leaks.
Fox News reported on December 31, 2024, that in the face of competition from China, the U.S. is advancing the commercialization of space stations, planning to deorbit the ISS and replace it with space stations developed by U.S. companies. However, some worry this idea may follow the same path as the U.S. space shuttle program, plagued by delays. By then, China might become the only nation with an operational space station.