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Her knowledge of aluminum came from her lover, the aircraft designer.
At the time, the gentleman was busy researching improvements to the aircraft wings, and he would often talk to her about various aviation-related topics.
Aluminum is an excellent material.
It is lightweight, highly malleable, and in humid environments, it forms an oxide layer that resists corrosion.
Because of its abundant natural supply, aluminum is widely used in the manufacture of industrial products such as airplanes, cars, and rockets. It is also ground into powder for corrosion prevention and for enhancing color.
"We can't confirm what this actually is—but it's definitely not silver," the young student said excitedly. "It can be ignited and emits a dazzling white flame, almost like a burning star!"
"How was it extracted specifically?" Leonardo, who was more concerned with this detail, asked. "And how much was extracted afterward?"
"It seems someone poured battery liquid onto the ground," the student wasn't very sure. "We went out for lunch, and when we came back, the ground was sparkling. At first, we thought someone had scattered silver powder."
... That must have been a chemical reaction.
Without thinking twice, Hedy called Niccolo aside and they went to a separate room to talk.
"Additional funding?" Niccolo seemed a little panicked. "Are you sure? This isn't silver. If the investment fails, the upper house will definitely put pressure on us."
"Of course it's not silver," she said, half-amused and half-annoyed. "But it's worth far more than silver."
"What?" Niccolo suddenly recalled the previous rumors about alchemists and, in a hushed tone, said, "Could this be something used to make the elixir of immortality?"
Hedy nearly laughed out loud but shook her head seriously. "It will allow us to have lighter and faster ships."
At present, steam engines were rapidly improving, and because of this, if the aluminum industry could take shape quickly, perhaps in twenty years, they would have large ships and cars.
The birth of many materials requires the foundation of basic chemistry, and an accidental discovery could completely change the course of history.
Hedy had intended to explain further, but as she thought about aluminum, she suddenly felt something in her mind shift.
—Aluminum might require a long research and development cycle, from refining to purifying, enough to keep these scholars busy for a long time.
But there was something else, something already in front of her and the military.
Alloys.
"I have to go," she said quickly, standing up. "Niccolo, tell Leonardo to come over immediately. We’re going to the firearmsresearch institute."
After receiving the message, Leonardo quickly left the party and met her at the firearms institute in the southern part of the city.
When Lorenzo agreed to fund weapon improvements, Leonardo had spent a lot of time there.
However, most of his energy was spent on improving smaller items, like rifling and gunpowder, while more fundamental aspects had been overlooked.
"The steel we're producing right now... it’s simply not enough, right?" Hedy said, braving the hot air to inspect the workshop, tightly holding Leonardo’s hand. "Not only is it not hard enough or sharp enough, but it also requires a lot of charcoal and coal."
"That’s unavoidable," Leonardo kissed the back of her hand, reassuring her. "While it’s not on par with alloy knives, it’s still enough to scare off those Frenchmen."
"Alloy knives?" she repeated. "How powerful are they?"
"They can cut through falling feathers in the air, sharp and indestructible," Leonardo said seriously. "We have several in the research lab, but so far, no craftsmen have been able to replicate them."
"Leonardo," Hedy looked at him. "Have you tried using a microscope to observe the cross-sections of these blades?"
The expression on the man’s face shifted, clearly, he had never thought of this.
