Regarding hydrogen-induced cracking

This person is remarkable; Mr. Lee Hoon invented the hydrogen analyzer, which is used to determine the hydrogen content in steel. It turned out that hydrogen was the cause of the fracture in the aircraft’s main shaft. Mr. Lee Hun also became a pioneer in the field of hydrogen-induced cracking.

Li Xun, a physical metallurgist and expert in scientific research management, was a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (renamed an academician in 1993). In his early years, he conducted research on hydrogen in steel, further laying the scientific foundation for the study of hydrogen in steel. He established the Institute of Metallurgy of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and achieved remarkable success ； Adhering to the principle that scientific research should serve economic development and placing emphasis on basic theoretical research have made significant contributions to the advancement of China’s science and technology sector. Li Xun was born on November 20, 1913, in Shaoyang County, Hunan Province (now part of Shaodong County). His father was a classmate of Cai E. In the early years of the Republic of China, he served as the magistrate of Nanchang Prefecture in Jiangxi Province. In 1925, he returned to his hometown, but his family’s fortunes had declined by then. From 1926 to 1931, Li Xun attended Changsha Yucai Middle School, Mingde Middle School, Changjun Middle School, and Yueyun Middle School in sequence. He graduated from high school in 1932, and due to his excellent grades, he was admitted to the Department of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering at Hunan University’s School of Engineering, where he received scholarships for several consecutive years. After graduation, Li Xun worked as a teacher at Changsha Chuyi Senior Industrial School. In 1937, Hunan Province held an exam for government-funded study abroad opportunities, and Li Xun ranked first. In August of the same year, he went to the School of Metallurgy at the University of Sheffield in the UK to pursue further studies, where he studied under Professor JH Andrew and was highly favored by him. In 1938, he received the Brunton Medal and prize money ； Received a PhD in philosophy in 1940. He then stayed at the school’s graduate school to oversee some research work, training many metallurgists. In 1946, the National Government in Nanjing instructed Professor Sa Bendong, an officer at the Academia Sinica, to invite Li Xun to return to China to take up a position, but he declined on polite grounds. In 1950, the University of Sheffield awarded Lee Hoon a doctorate in metallurgy. In the UK, this institution is the only one to name its highest doctoral degree after a metallurgy scholar, and Li Xun is the only researcher in China to have received this honor. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Li Dequan and Zhou Peiyuan led a delegation on a visit to the UK. Tu Changwang, a member of the delegation, specially invited Li Xun to London to urge him in person to return to the country. Soon after, President Guo Moruo personally wrote a letter on behalf of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, inviting him to return to the country to establish a research institute. Li Xun readily agreed. Thus, Ke Jun, Zhang Peilin, Zhang Zuomei, Zhuang Yuzhi, Fang Bing, and others residing in the UK were invited to discuss matters related to establishing the institute. In August 1951, Li Xun returned to his homeland via **. Li Xun was elected as a member of the Department of Technical Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1955, and joined the Communist Party of China on December 20, 1961. He has served as a researcher, director, and honorary director at the Institute of Metallurgy of the Chinese Academy of Sciences ； Director of the Shenyang Branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee; Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, member of the Party Leadership Group, member of the Leading Party Members’ Group, and Director of the Department of Technical Sciences ； He is a member of the 2nd National Committee of the China Association for Science and Technology, vice president of the Chinese Society of Metals, and editor-in-chief of the Acta Metallurgica Sinica ； He was also elected as a representative to the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th sessions of the National People’s Congress, as well as an executive member of the Central Committee of the Jiusan Society. During his time working in Liaoning Province, he held positions such as member of the Liaoning Provincial Party Committee, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the Liaoning Provincial People’s Congress, and acting president of the Liaoning Provincial Association for Science and Technology. In early 1983, Li Xun had just recovered from pneumonia. In order to explore new approaches for the development of the metallurgical industry by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and its affiliated research institutes, and to conduct a comprehensive assessment of China’s newly established metallurgical industries, he returned to Beijing shortly after leaving the Baoshan Iron and Steel Plant. He then went to places such as the Panzhihua Iron and Steel Company, the Great Wall Steel Plant, and the Wuhan Iron and Steel Company for inspections. During these trips, while passing through Kunming, he passed away suddenly in the early hours of March 20th at the age of 70.

It further laid a scientific foundation for the study of hydrogen in steel. In the 1940s, Li Xun conducted research on hydrogen in steel under the guidance of Professor Anju at Sheffield University. During World War II, British aircraft suffered from sudden breakage accidents. Through diligent research, Li Xun discovered that hydrogen content in steel was the main cause of accidents, and he figured out the requirement for a holding period for hydrogen to cause white spots in steel as well as the patterns by which hydrogen is removed from steel, thereby resolving long-standing problems. Li Xun and others identified the relationship between hydrogen content in steel and its mechanical strength, namely that when the hydrogen content reaches 2 milliliters per 100 grams of steel, it reduces the plasticity of the steel. At that time, the steel produced generally had a hydrogen content of around 4–6 milliliters, making it difficult to avoid hydrogen embrittlement in such steel. Steel that develops cracks generally has a high hydrogen content; the diffusion rate and solubility of hydrogen in steel are two important factors determining whether cracking will occur. Li Xun and others proposed a theory stating that internal pressure is generated near defects due to the accumulation of hydrogen, leading to cracks. This pressure is generated because atomic hydrogen diffuses to defects at high temperatures, and at room temperature, atomic hydrogen turns into molecular hydrogen. These molecular hydrogen molecules cannot diffuse, thus generating enormous internal pressure that causes cracks in the steel. When carbides are present, hydrogen reacts with them to form methane; its pressure is also sufficient to cause cracking. Defects are generated during cold working, thereby increasing the molecular hydrogen content and promoting the initiation of hydrogen embrittlement. Between 1942 and 1948, Li Xun published a series of valuable papers on the study of hydrogen in steel, further laying a scientific foundation for such research; these contributions earned him widespread acclaim.

Establishment of the Institute of Metallurgy: The Institute of Metallurgy was the first large-scale research institute established after the founding of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The first issues Li Xun faced in the planning phase were what kind of research institute to build and where to locate it. His academic achievements while studying in the UK were primarily in the field of metallurgy. However, at that time in his home country, it was the period of three-year economic recovery and on the eve of the first five-year plan for national economic development; the top priority was to address the issue of steel production, with smelting being the key aspect in this process. Despite his own academic expertise, he decided to make smelting, fuels, and refractory materials the main focus of the institute. When selecting the location for the research institute, he considered that China’s heavy industry bases are in the Northeast, and it is their responsibility to support the whole country ； Shenyang was the residence of the people in Northeast China at that time; it served as the political, economic, and cultural center of the region as well as a transportation hub. It was also located at the heart of the steel industry cluster composed of Ansteel, Benxi Iron and Steel, Fushun Iron and Steel, and Dalian Iron and Steel mills, making Shenyang the ideal location for this purpose. Li Xun’s opinions were in line with the intentions of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the people of Northeast China at that time. In the winter of 1951, Li Xun and his party went to the Northeast to scout locations, arriving at Wulihezi on the southern outskirts of Shenyang, which had been agreed upon by the people of the Northeast**. On a piece of barren land, he talked at length about the plans, saying excitedly, “Our mission begins right here!” With the full support of the people of the Northeast, it took just over a year for the Institute of Metallurgy of the Chinese Academy of Sciences to be built. Li Xun led the Institute of Metals for 30 years, achieving remarkable results. After visiting China, the delegation from the Institute of Metals of the UK in 1978 published an article stating: “The research institutes in the field of metallurgy in China vary in level; the highest level is probably reached at the Institute of Metal Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Shenyang.” Summarizing Li Xun’s achievements in running the institute, there are four main characteristics: 1. Scientific research is geared toward the main fronts of economic and national defense development; at the same time, basic work is not neglected, and the theoretical level is continuously improved. In the early days of the establishment of the Institute of Metal Research, Li Xun focused on three main areas of research: First, he accepted **tasks related to the construction of Wuhan Iron and Steel Company and Baotou Iron and Steel Company. He mobilized all the resources of the Mineral Processing Research Laboratory and most of the personnel from the Analytical Chemistry Laboratory to conduct research on the mineral processing of the Daye and Bayan Obo iron ores. Additionally, he allocated the main research forces from the Refractory Materials Research Laboratory to assist in geological surveys, thereby providing a scientific basis for the technical design of projects aided by the Soviet Union ； Second, it guided the Refractories Research Laboratory to conduct in-depth research on the mechanism of wear and damage of newly invented magnesia-alumina bricks during the intensified smelting process in Anshan Iron and Steel’s open-hearth furnaces, thereby laying a scientific foundation. Additionally, in collaboration with Anshan Iron and Steel, efforts were made to improve the quality of high-alumina bricks used in blast furnaces for ironmaking ； Third is to research ways to improve steel quality and strengthen the steelmaking process. For example, in collaboration with Dalian Steel Plant, electric arc oxygen steelmaking was first implemented in China. To support Ansteel’s production of steel plates, rails, etc. at that time, efforts were made to research and improve quality throughout the process from pressure processing to heat treatment ； And establish a technical training facility to train inspectors for determining hydrogen, oxygen, and non-metallic inclusions in steel. At the same time, in conjunction with improving steel quality, research on the physical chemistry of metallurgical processes was pioneered. His academic achievements earned him the Third Prize in Natural Sciences from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1956. At the end of the 1950s, China’s metallurgical scientific and technological capabilities were gradually developing, and international scientific progress entered a new phase. Li Xun assessed the situation carefully and guided the Metal Research Institute to make significant changes in its areas of research. It has shifted from focusing on serving the steel industry to primarily developing new materials, new technologies, and corresponding new testing methods. He quickly mobilized resources to establish research laboratories for superalloys, refractory metals, cermets, uranium metallurgy, uranium dioxide ceramic nuclear materials, and pyrolytic graphite, and strengthened the staffing for researching high-strength steels and alloy steels, achieving significant results in a short period of time. The Metal Research Institute made significant contributions by successfully developing certain key materials for China’s achievements such as the successful detonation of the first atomic bomb, the launch of the first artificial Earth satellite to return to Earth, the creation of the first supersonic jet aircraft, and the construction of the first nuclear submarine. The Metal Research Institute was the first in the country to adopt technologies such as vacuum melting, plasma spraying and welding, high-pressure electron beam welding, acoustic emission, hydraulic servo fatigue testing, and Auger spectrum analysis. Commissioned by the Science and Technology Commission, Li Xun took charge of national testing for high-temperature physical properties. A facility was established at the Metal Research Institute, which played an important role in providing a basis for the development of new materials as well as in determining the causes of accidents. In 1971, a factory faced problems due to the brittle fracture of metal materials, which affected the delivery of hundreds of aircraft; Premier Zhou Enlai and Marshal Ye Jianying personally took charge of this matter. Li Xun was tasked with leading several technical experts to the site for an on-site inspection, and they quickly reached a conclusion. At the meeting convened by Marshal Ye, both Premier Zhou and Marshal Ye praised the work of Li Xun and the Metal Research Institute. Such failure analysis, aimed at identifying the causes of accidents and finding ways to improve processes and materials, has always been a focus of Li Xun’s work. In terms of theoretical research and applied fundamental research, under the leadership of Lee Hoon, the Metal Research Institute has, to a certain extent, reduced the wavering caused by the influence of extreme \"left\" ideologies. At the time of its establishment, a Metal Physics Research Laboratory was set up with Ge Ting sui as its director, focusing on research on crystal defects and mechanical properties. By the early 1960s, a research laboratory for alloy structures was established with Guo Kexin as its director. Li Xun called on all senior researchers to undertake projects that combine fundamental research with practical applications, and he himself set an example by taking the lead in tackling such challenges. 2 Develop intelligence and cultivate talents; appoint people according to their abilities and virtues, and know how to utilize them effectively. To establish the Metal Research Institute, Li Xun made great efforts to recruit talent. He first invited Zhang Peilin, Zhang Zuomei, Zhuang Yuzhi, Fang Bing, Ke Jun and others from those who were studying in the UK. In Beijing, he specially invited the couple Ge Tingsu and He Yizhen, as well as senior researchers such as Zhang Shouqing, Tan Bingyu, Liu Jingyi, and Liang Shuquan, who came from the Mineral Processing Laboratory of the Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, the Refractory Materials Laboratory of the Dalian Institute of Industrial Chemistry, and the proposed Industrial Inspection Institute. Li Xun proactively and sincerely united them, bringing their talents to full play. In the mid-1950s, scholars who returned from abroad, such as Shi Changxu, Guo Kexin, Si Chongyao, and Wu Dingming, were also invited by Li Xun to work as researchers at the institute; each of them developed their own areas of academic research and made outstanding contributions. In the early days of the Metal Research Institute, a group of college students was assigned there; they lacked knowledge of steel industry production. Li Xun proposed the principle of working while the institute was being established, while simultaneously carrying out training and learning. He organized senior researchers to give lectures, and at the same time formed work teams that were sent to steel mills to gain practical experience in production. In this way, not only do college students gain experience and improvement, but it also paves the way for genuine cooperation between the factories. To help scientific researchers keep their knowledge up to date and improve their theoretical skills, the Metal Research Institute frequently holds lectures, inviting renowned scholars to give systematic presentations. Li Xun, like all those who participated in the study program, attended lectures together and took exams together. The exam results were posted, and Li Xun was always at the top of the list. His rigorous approach to scholarship and his tireless dedication to learning set an excellent example for fostering a strong academic atmosphere at the Metal Research Institute. Li Xun cared deeply for intellectuals, paying attention to their work, studies, and political progress. Give full scope to use technical professionals with genuine expertise, and work together in harmony and unity with those who hold different academic views and opinions. Several researchers once left the Metal Research Institute due to reasons such as their spouses living in different places; they were assigned jobs in Beijing, Luoyang and other locations. However, not long after, they all earnestly asked Li Xun to allow them to return, and with his permission, they gradually went back to Shenyang. Li Xun is highly respected by everyone, and he is also an important factor in promoting unity and progress throughout the institute. 3. Lead research efforts, always staying at the forefront of global scientific and technological development. Li Xun often encourages researchers to set ambitious goals, to be brave in exploration, and to avoid simply imitating and repeating work already done by others. One must “make discoveries, invent things, create, and move forward.” He said humorously that one should “catch turtles in the five oceans, not just in a jar,” and “do the work of our ancestors.” For example, “18-8” stainless steel is the “ancestor” of all stainless steels; many other types of stainless steel have evolved from it. He used sharp words to mock those research approaches that merely changed the composition of ingredients in order to create \"new\" steel grades, calling it \"cooking.\" He earnestly warned scientists, saying, \"Anyone can ‘cook’ – as long as they have a stove – but if they continue to do this, they will fall behind others.\" ”Its language is simple yet its implications are profound, and it has been widely circulated among metallurgical scientists. In 1956, Li Xun participated in the formulation of the national \"Long-Term Plan for Scientific and Technological Development 1956–1967,\" during which he proposed the development of converter oxygen-based steelmaking technology. After returning from a visit to the Soviet Union in 1957, considering the need to develop jet and aerospace technologies, it was recognized that the trend for metal and alloy materials was towards achieving higher temperatures and greater strength. Therefore, research areas such as superalloys were identified as key focuses of development ； At a certain stage of research on deformable superalloys, when further improvements in both their production methods and performance proved difficult to achieve, the use of precision casting techniques to develop superalloy turbine blades was proposed. Li Xun is engaged in scientific research, keeping a close eye on the frontiers of global development. By focusing his research on these cutting-edge areas, he has achieved significant results. 4. Adhere to seeking truth from facts, strictly avoid fraud, and promote a rigorous, serious, and meticulous academic attitude and work style. Li Xunye is rigorous in his academic approach and sets high standards for researchers and graduate students; a paper must be refined thoroughly before it can be submitted. He personally drafted all his articles, reports, and speeches, never relying on others to do it for him. Once, one researcher handled the experimental data carelessly and made arbitrary selections, while another was suspected of fabricating data; he gave them both strict reprimands, announced the matter throughout the institute, and imposed demotion penalties on them. Li Xun adhered to a scientific approach, valued scientific ethics, and led by example, serving as a role model for generations of teachers.

To develop China’s metallurgical science and technology industry: In 1956, the **Outline of the 12-Year Long-Term Development Plan for Natural Sciences** was formulated. Li Xun was in charge of the section on metallurgical science and technology, thereby outlining a blueprint for the development of China’s metallurgical industry. Starting in 1962, **he was repeatedly invited to assemble experts to plan the development of the country’s science and technology sector, and he was in charge of the metallurgy field. Subsequently, the **Science and Technology Commission** appointed him as deputy head of both the Metallurgy Group and the Group on New Metallurgical Materials. Over a period of more than 20 years, he united and coordinated efforts from all sides, utilized his talents and wisdom, and guided the progress of the nation’s metallurgical science and technology sector. Apart from founding the Institute of Metal Research and nurturing numerous talents, Li Xun also supported the establishment of new research institutes, thereby making significant contributions to China’s scientific endeavors. For instance, most of the personnel from the Ore Dressing Research Laboratory and the Analytical Chemistry Laboratory were relocated to Changsha to establish the Institute of Mining and Metallurgy of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (now known as the Changsha Research Institute of Mining and Metallurgy under the Ministry of Metallurgy) ； The iron-smelting section of the Research Laboratory of Metallurgical Chemistry was merged into the Institute of Chemical Engineering and Metallurgy, Chinese Academy of Sciences ； The Refractories Research Laboratory was relocated to Shanghai to jointly establish the Institute of Silicate Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences ； The nuclear materials research section has been transferred to the newly established Southwest Reactor Engineering Research and Design Institute in Chengdu. Subsequently, the Chinese Academy of Sciences established the Institute of Solid State Physics and the Institute of Corrosion and Protection of Metals in Hefei and Shenyang respectively, both of which received support and assistance from Li Xun and the Institute of Metals. As for the scientific and technical personnel who benefited from Li Xun’s guidance and grew in their careers, they can be found throughout the country. The vast majority of them are key figures and leaders in the fields of science and technology; they have made tremendous contributions to the progress of China’s metallurgical science and technology. In 1960, with the active promotion and personal involvement of Li Xun and Ge Tingsui, a national training course on dislocations and electron theory was first held in Changchun. Subsequently, a national conference on metal physics took place in Shenyang. These events were significant milestones in the development of the discipline of metal physics in China. Li Xun is enthusiastic about the activities organized by the association. He was one of the founders of the Chinese Society for Metals, and served as the second and third vice president of the society. He united scholars from various sectors and regions across the country, setting aside departmental interference and sectarian biases to work together toward promoting the development of the metallurgical industry and the metallurgical discipline. Li Xun placed great importance on founding and running the Journal of Metals well; he served as its editor-in-chief, adhered to principles such as the journal’s editorial policy, and personally handled all specific editorial tasks including paper review and editing, without ever showing any reluctance. Today, the Acta Metallurgica Sinica has become one of the internationally renowned academic journals. He is also an editorial board member of Science in China, the editor-in-chief of the Materials Science Series published by Science Press, and the deputy director of the editorial board for the Mining and Metallurgy volume of the Chinese Encyclopedia. Personally wrote entries on metallurgy and metallography. An overview of historical facts, an exposition of achievements, and guidance on future development. This is his last academically valuable posthumous work. As early as the 1950s, Li Xun proposed expanding the comprehensive utilization of rare earth element resources. Under his organization and leadership, the Metal Research Institute pursued research relentlessly and achieved a series of results. **In 1965, the Science Committee established a leading group for the application of rare earths and niobium in steel; he served as its leader and organized numerous academic seminars, thereby promoting related research efforts across the country. In the early days when nickel-chromium deposits had not yet been discovered in our country, Li Xun organized efforts to conduct research on chromium-manganese-nitrogen stainless steel. Since 1959, the Metal Research Institute has carried out systematic and pioneering research on iron-manganese-aluminum alloy systems, which has played a guiding role in the development of low-temperature, non-magnetic, and heat-resistant steels. In May 1978, the Chinese Academy of Sciences established a Shenyang branch and appointed Li Xun as its director. New policies for newcomers, striving for excellence. In 1980, he wrote an article titled \"Selecting and Cultivating Talents in Science and Technology,\" arguing that \"the task of the Chinese Academy of Sciences is to produce results and talents; without a group of ‘top-tier’ talents, it is impossible to achieve high-level results.\" ”It is argued that \"for a long-term perspective, the most fundamental thing is to focus on basic education, starting from an early age and building on fundamentals.\" ” In May 1981, Li Xun was selected as the vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and director of the Department of Technical Sciences. He recognized the shortcomings in our country’s scientific and technological system at that time, such as how science and technology could be applied to economic development ； How to change the \"one-size-fits-all\" system for meals in research institutes and the same \"one-size-fits-all\" approach regarding meals provided to researchers there” ； How to break through the constraints of regional and departmental ownership of talent ； How to develop intelligence and update knowledge, etc. He actively relied on department members to effectively strengthen academic leadership. Shortly after taking office, he proposed organizing committee members in phases to evaluate the various research institutes under their jurisdiction; this not only helped improve the work of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and its research institutes but also served as a precursor to the subsequent reform of the science and technology system across the country. He also organized meetings with department members and expert colleagues to discuss the development of computers and large-scale integrated circuits in our country, and submitted positive recommendations to **. Ten days before his death, Li Xun gave an interview to a reporter from the Economic Daily, in which he spoke about reforming the science and technology system. He said, “Science and technology must serve economic development; a key issue is to break down departmental ownership so that science and technology can work hand in hand with economic development.” ”Consider the possibility of establishing research and production consortia as soon as possible, such as large-scale research and production joint companies, in order to break down departmental barriers, facilitate the exchange of talent, and achieve close collaboration between research and production. “The Chinese Academy of Sciences can collaborate with enterprises to establish research institutions, technology development companies, open laboratories, and science and technology training courses…” To turn these insightful ideas into reality, Li Xun, despite being recovering from a serious illness and having a weak health condition, resolutely set out on a journey across the southwestern part of the country.