บท 8: Steel
"Your highness, The research is going well but. The longevity of the railways made from wrought iron is a bit too short. If we built railways all over the empire we would need to put a significant portion of our budget to maintenence. And thats without taking into account the effects of weather.
"And why use wrought iron specificlly?"
"Wrought iron is easy to mass produce and has some songevity.
There is a better option though, for example steel.
Steel rails are stronger and more durable then wrought iron, and can last 10 times longer. but sadly its difficult to mass produce and very expensive.
Unless there is a way to mass produce large quantities of steel, I doubt that it will be possible to build railway lines connecting the entirety of the empire."
Hearing katerinas explanation Alexander then remembers.
One of the key technologies that made building railways more viable is the bessemer process technology.
Revolutanizing how steel is made, making it possible to mass produce.
But...
The bessemer process won't be invented for another 2 decades.
'But that doesn't mean it can't be invented earlier. Techniclly speaking I already have the basics of math and chemistry down, If I study mettalurgy, with the help of other scientists it won't be impossible to create the bessemer process earlier.'
"Thanks Katerina.
Also, do you know anyone that has a good understanding of chemistry and mettalurgy?"
"Well... I do know some people, but why ask?"
"Because we are gonna revolutanize the steel industry."
-February 13-
"Alright gentlemen.
I have gathered you all here to discuss improvements to the way we make steel.
Currently the method of making steel is to put wrought iron bars layered with charcoal on stone boxes, heated for days or even weeks
Until the irom absorbs the carbon.
Converting it to blister steel.
Then its cut into pieces and melted in a crucible with charcoal."
"As you can see there are several problems with this method.
Its takes a very long time to make small amounts of steel, the steel made will have an uneven distribution and amount of carbon since its difficult to control how much carbon gets absorbed."
"My goal is:
1. To cut down the time required to make steel.
2. To control the carbon content so that the steel is of high quality."
"Any questions?"
"Yes your highness, do we have a deadline?"
"No, and no limit on funding.
What matters are results."
After the questions they started working.
-april 8-
"So, what are the results?"
"Your highness, we have managed to make steel with a carbon contant of 2%
But there are some issues.
It requires very high temperatures approximatly 1300°c-1600°c (2372F-2912F)
And to get such high temperature we need to have someone constantly blowing oxygen into the crucible.
It takes a long time to get to such high temperatures and the men need to blow oxygen in shifts.
Not to mention that at such high temperatures the crucible in which the melted iron is poured is itself starting to melt.
The scientists are currently working on a crucible heat resistant enough to temperatures above 1800°c(3272°F)
There are also impurities in the steel, like silicon and oxygen, further lowering the quality of steel"
"To blow air into the crucible we can simply use a steam engine.
As for the impurities...they can be addressed later."
"If thats all, dismissed."
And so, the scientist that reported to Alexander leaves to continue working on imptoving the crucible and buying a steam engine.
"The impurities huh.
How to remove the oxygen?
It attaches to the iron forming FeO weakening the steel and making it brittle.
But why does oxygen attach to iron?
Wait.
What if oxygen attached to something else
And if that element was less dense then molten steel then it would float to the surface, and can be removed easily taking the oxygen with it, the same could be done for silicon and other impurities!."
-April 17-
"Father, I don't want to celebrate my birthday.
Its a waste of time."
"That can't be.
The other noble families are celebrating something as small "succescfuly catching a rabbit", what will the others say if My sons birthday is not celebrated?"
Currently Alexander and Nicholas I are arguing about Alexanders birthday.
Alexander doesn't want to celebrate since in his opinion its a waste of time.
And Nicholas I wants to celebrate because its been years since Alexanders birthday was last celebrated and as a loving father thats unnaccaptable.
Previous times Alexander managed to convince Nicholas I not to celebrate his birthday but it seems like right now, no matter what alexander says there is no convincing his father.
"Fine.
I accept.
I will celebrate my brithday BUT.
Try to keep it small, please?"
"Don't worry, I will definitely not invite a lot of people"
"Thanks...Dad."
"By the way, how is the research on improving steel production going?"
"Its been a couple of months since we started, currently we are still trying to solve the problem of impurities and controlling the temperature, as well as making a crucible that can withstand such high temperatures."
"I see, well.
No matter the results I will have your back."
Hearing what his father said it warms Alexanders heart a bit.
"Anyways, dimissed."
-April 29(Alexanders Birthday)-
"Have you heard? His Majesty invested money in the crown princs rsearch"
"Huh? Why?
What is the research about?"
"Some thing about steel making"
"Steel making?
Whats he gonna use all that steel for?
Its a waste of money"
There are many nobles gossiping about anything really.
The woman are discussing jewlery and make up while the man talk about warfare, and some also discuss scandals that took place.
But then all of them quiet down as his royal highness the prince Alexander Nikolaevich Romanov enters.
He is wearing a Military uniform with various medals as well as white pants and black leather shoes. he is also wearing gold coated shoulder pads.
As he walks many there couldn't help but marvel.
Thats the future tsar of the russian empire.
And as the surprise subsides the nobles continue talking, many others go to Alexander II to congratulate him, as well as to leave a good impression.
'You know, Having entered the room I didn't excpect that many people to be there.
As well as all the stares, everyone is looking at me. Making me a bit anxious.
And now some of the nobles are coming towards me.'
"Your Highness. Congrats on turning 18
Years old. May god be with you."
"Your highness, have you decided on who to marry yet? If not let me introduce you to my daughter, she may be a bit on the younger side 15 years old but she is a beauty"
"Your highness...."
"Your highness..."
All the noise from the nobles disturbs Alexander, so he answers their questions one by one patiently.
And as he answers several noble ladies wink at him, and giving him suggestive glances, as if inviting him.
He simply ignores them.
He cannot afford to be careless and must upkeep his image as the "ideal" crown prince.
And finally after some time has passed the musicians started playing a calm classical music.
The noble man started inviting the woman to a dance.
Seeing the change in atmosphere amd the actions of the other nobles Alexander knows he is screwed.
He has never asked a woman to a dance.
And is anxious.
'Calm down, its easy.
You are the crown prince so there is no one that would decline you.
Just go to a lady and ask her to a dance, easy enough right?'
And so, Alexander Approaches one of the noble ladies. The lady that Alexander decided to approach has blond hair styled in an updo, wears long white gloves and a red velvet bodice at a low neckline showcasing her décolletage and complementing her hair.
She also wears accesories like a necklace that reaches to her generous cleavage and a rose on her hair.
Safe to say, the woman he approached is drop-dead goergous, good choice.
So, Alexander placing his right hand on his left chest bows down and asks
"May I have the honor of you dancing with me my lady?"
The lady, in response.
"Of course, it would also be my honor to dance with the crown prince."
And so, as they hold hands they go the center of the ball room and dance. A waltz to be specific.
"So, may I know your name my lady?"
"Elizaveta Dologrukova, but you can call me Eliza, and may I know your name your highness?"
"Alexander Nikolaevich Romanov, you can call me Alexander.
I have to say, I have never met woman as beautiful as you."
The lady, having heard Alexanders flattering words blushes.
"Thank you your highness for the compliment, and I can say the same to you.
You are indeed one of the most handsome men I met."
And thats not a lie either.
Throughout the years Alexander has been excercising, sometimes going out on hunts as well as maintaining a strict diet.
He has a well toned body.
"Eliza, If I may so boldly ask
After this dance is over, would you be willing for us to meet again?"
Alexsnder knows he is being a bit hypocritical for stating sucha request, but he struck by Elizavetas beauty.
"I'm more then willing, as well as looking forward to it your highness."
Said Elizaveta as she chuckles.
And just like that after the light talk the waltz came to an end.
"Its been an honor to dance with you my lady."
"I could say the same to you"
The ball still continued for some time until Alexanders Father Tsar Nicholas I
Made a speech.
"Thank you all for coming here to this ball arranged to celebrate my sons birthday.
It was great to have you all here."
After a while the speech came to an end and everyone started to leave one by one.
[End of chapter]
A/N this chapter is longer then the previous ones as compensation for writing a short chapter last time.
A week of holiday is coming up so I should have more free time to update more.
Anyways good day.
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