The chain reaction would have produced a fireball exceeding 1,000 degrees Celsius lasting more than two seconds. The device can be deployed when the situation requires covering a large area with intense heat and concentrating its power on high value targets to destroy them
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Chinese scientists can have tested an explosive hydrogen -based device, triggering massive chemical chain reactions without using nuclear materials, reported SCMP, citing a study published last month. According to the research document, the chain reaction produced a fireball exceeding 1,000 degrees Celsius lasting more than two seconds.
The aircraft would have been built by the China State ShipBuilding Corporation (CSSC) 705 Research Institute. The SCMP report said the device used “a hydrogen storage material with a solid magnesium -based condition”.
Magnesium -based hydrogen storage material
The material is actually a silver powder, which can contain a much higher volume of hydrogen in a compact form. In the article, scientists have described how, when triggered by standard explosives, the material decomposes quickly and releases gas hydrogen. This gas then ignites, creating an intense and sustained flame.
Such a mechanism could potentially be used in high -energy propulsion systems or advanced weapons due to its compactness and energy density.
The researchers wrote: “The gaseous hydrogen explosions sink with a minimum ignition energy, have a wide range of explosion and trigger flames that take place quickly while spreading.”
“This combination allows precise control over the intensity of the explosion, easily achieving the uniform destruction of targets in large areas,” they added.
Potential military use
The researchers would also have explored the military use of the aircraft, especially when the situation requires covering a large area with intense heat and concentrating its power on high -value targets to destroy them.
It was not clear where the large amount of magnesium hydride used in the test came from. The newspaper also jumped by mentioning the potential scenarios where the popular liberation army of China could in fact deploy these weapons.
Why production of magnesium hydride is a big problem
Before, scientists could only make a few grams of magnesium hydride every day in the laboratories. It is because doing it requires very high heat and pressure. If he touches the air by accident, he can explode.
Now China has built a large factory at the Shaanxi which can make 150 tonnes of this equipment each year. The factory uses a special method called “synthesis to a pot” which makes production cheaper and safer, according to the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Scientists also explore other uses of the device, including the propulsion of underwater fuel cells and long-term drone feed systems.
