Cherish The Memory Of Yu Mingfang, Who Deeply Mourned The Memory Of The "Silk Road".

　　 In April 12th, we were deeply saddened by the news of the death of academician Yu Mingfang, a pioneer of China's chemical fiber and a pioneer in the production technology of polypropylene nonwovens. Deeply mourning for Yu Lao.

Yu Mingfang, academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering

　　 Yu Mingfang, a famous chemical fiber expert in China, is a member of the Chinese Academy of engineering. Yin County, Zhejiang, a member of the Communist Party of China, a member of the Chinese Academy of engineering, a professor and doctoral tutor of the school of materials science and engineering, Donghua University, died of illness and died in Shanghai at 12:30 on April 12, 2020. He was 93 years old.

　　 Yu Mingfang, born in October 1927 in Yin County, Zhejiang, graduated from the Department of chemical engineering of Soochow University in 1948. From 1948 to 1957, he worked in China textile construction company, Shanghai seventeenth cotton textile mill, Shanghai branch of Textile Science Research Institute of textile department, and worked in Shanghai synthetic fiber laboratory factory from 1958 to 1964, and served as chief and deputy chief engineer of production technology section. In 1964, the Shanghai synthetic fiber Experimental Factory was reorganized into the Shanghai synthetic fiber research institute, and served as deputy director and deputy chief engineer, chief engineer and chief engineer. Since 2001, he has been a professor and director of the school of materials, Donghua University. He was elected academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering in 1995. In 2002, he won the Guanghua Engineering Science and technology award.

　　 From participating in the development and spinning of China's first synthetic fiber nylon 6 wire, to the first domestic military parachute nylon filament, from the organization and development of polyimide fiber, carbon fiber, aramid fiber and other high-performance fibers, to host the "polypropylene filament spinning directly" project, over the past 60 years, Yu Mingfang has used various research results to solve the problem of national clothing and national defense strategy. Fruitful contributions. But he commented himself: "I am just an ordinary science and technology worker. In the past 50 years, I have just done what I should do." He insisted on Li De Shu, who was still teaching for undergraduates, and donated to the Qian Baojun Education Fund. He encouraged students to study in order to build China into a world strong chemical fiber power, and transported a large number of talents to China's chemical fiber industry. He has won the National Science Conference award, the national science and technology progress award, the Chinese Academy of Engineering "Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Award", the China Industrial Textile Industry Association spunbond nonwovens "Lifetime Achievement Award", the reform and opening up 40 years, the textile industry outstanding contribution figures and so on more than 20 awards, the textile industry department "advanced worker", the Shanghai Textile Industry Bureau outstanding Party member, Shanghai City Education Department Outstanding communist Communists and many other honors.

　　 Academician Yu Mingfang's textile life

　　 Life's silk road goes back.

　　 -- Academician Yu Mingfang, expert of chemical fiber engineering technology

　　 The ambition of westward pursuit of ancient tracks, the setting sun of solitary smoke and desert. Camel bell Ancient Road Silk Road, Hu Ma still heard Tang Hanfeng. More than two thousand years ago, the Silk Road opened the door to China's external exchanges. Yu Mingfang is also using his brilliant silk road to make Chinese chemical fiber technology integrate with the world.

　　 Appreciate the wonders of Chemistry

　　 In October 3, 1927, Yu Mingfang was born in a small business family in Shanghai. Because of the ups and downs of the business field, Yu Mingfang's grandfather deeply realized that "the scholar is not afraid of clothes and broken, but he is afraid that he has no goods in his belly", so Yu Mingfang has high hopes for his eldest son's grandson. His three uncles and little aunts are all university graduates. The family environment that reproduces good education has a subtle influence on Yu Mingfang's growth.

　　 In the youth era, the legend of the cowherd, the weaver girl, the Chang'e rush to the moon, the havoc of the heavenly palace, and so on, the mother spoke vividly, and Yu Mingfang listened with great interest. Since then, he has been fascinated by astronomy, finding stars and drawing stars whenever he has the chance. During the middle school, Yu Mingfang was interested in chemistry because of an experimental class. "The teacher uses three test tubes to add different liquids, and the liquid of two test tubes is poured together. The colorless liquid becomes red, then pour into other liquids, and the red becomes colorless again." The experimental class, like "juggling", let Yu Mingfang inadvertently appreciate the wonders of chemistry and lead him to the road of chemical fiber research.

　　 In 1944, Yu Mingfang enrolled in Soochow University directly with the excellent score of third points in the middle school. When choosing a major, he filled in chemistry. "Astronomy is rarely opened in universities, and it is not widely used in society. Chemistry is different. Most colleges and universities in this major offer jobs after graduation.

In 1948, Yu Mingfang (middle) and college classmate Yu Wenchao (left) and Lang Qinghai (right) studied at the University Library of Saint John, Shanghai.

　　 Due to the turmoil of the times, Soochow University moved from Suzhou to Shanghai to run schools. There are no fixed school buildings. Yu Ming Fang University has been studying around for four years. Although the university life is displaced, but Yu Mingfang's strict school spirit and excellent teachers have given him solid professional training, so far he has always remembered Gu Yidong's past teachings. "Five teacher's" W "(that is, How, Why, Whether, What, Whither) has been benefiting from my lifelong learning. After hearing his election as a member of the Academy, he paid special attention to the mentor who had retired from Fudan University.

　　 Development of the first "China silk"

　　 After graduating from college, Yu Mingfang declined the opportunity for his teacher to introduce his work to Taiwan petrochemical works. He joined the China textile construction company and was hired as the Assistant Technician in the laboratory. Shortly afterwards, transferred to the laboratory of Shanghai seventeenth cotton mill, responsible for raw material analysis of textile sizing.

　　 As a matter of fact, the routine analysis of the laboratory is really challenging for the top students of Soochow University who are keen to explore the mysteries of chemical change. In 1956, Yu Mingfang, who had always been engaged in chemical research, had ushered in a turning point in his life. That year, Premier Zhou Enlai made an important report at the national intellectual work conference and issued the call for "march toward science". Subsequently, all the systems in Shanghai issued the call to mobilize technicians who had not learned to return.

　　 At that time, our country was facing the dilemma of dressing hard, and the state was ready to develop the chemical fiber vigorously. Yu Mingfang was keen to capture this information. Considering that he has many years of experience in textile system and professional knowledge of chemistry, he should give greater play to his professional expertise. In April of this year, he submitted a report on "technology return" to the organization, expressing his wish to engage in chemical fiber research.

　　 In November 1957, the Shanghai Textile Industry Bureau complies with the strategic decision made by the state to vigorously develop the chemical fiber industry, and dispatched 11 technical personnel from the enterprise to set up the chemical fiber preparation and construction department. Yu Mingfang ranks among them. In this way, he entered the field of chemical fiber research.

　　 In March 1958, the Shanghai Textile Industry Bureau set up the Shanghai synthetic fiber experimental factory to study the main tasks of the clothing fiber, and set up five research groups, namely, the cable system, nylon 66, polyester, acrylic and acetate fiber. Yu Mingfang entered the team and worked with other members of the group to explore the development of domestic nylon fibers.

　　 At first, Yu Mingfang and others knew little about nylon. When they studied at the same time, they did not look up the relevant foreign materials day and night. Yu Mingfang also went to the relevant departments during the construction of the Beijing synthetic fiber factory. Search and collect blueprints for foreign research equipment. The Capron group relied on indigenous methods to simplify the situation. The raw material polymerization is short of high temperature resistant and corrosion resistant stainless steel autoclave. The old phoenix silver building is beaten into thin flakes by silver and made into a liner. After processing, the machine needs to be stretched and twisting machine. It is made by stretching the spinning machine out of the textile mill. In the process of development, it is necessary to use zero parts.

　　 After unremitting exploration, in June 1958, the Capron group finally used the earth equipment to spin the first synthetic fiber of China, nylon. In 1959, a fishing net made of nylon yarn was held to celebrate the National Day 10th anniversary achievement exhibition.

　　 Synthetic fibers are not only widely used, but also of great military value. Before the homemade nylon filaments were developed, China's military parachutes were completely supplied by the Soviet Union. However, in 1960, Sino Soviet relations deteriorated, and the Soviet union threatened to stop supplying military parachute materials. The party secretary of Nanjing 513 factory, who is responsible for making military parachutes, heard that Shanghai synthetic fiber Experimental Factory was excited after successfully developing the first nylon, and rushed to Shanghai personally to request the production of nylon silk suitable for military parachute as soon as possible.

　　 The requirements of military parachute silk are very high, and the nylon yarn developed by Yu Mingfang's team initially is uneven and not strong enough, but in order to keep the munitions from being threatened by "broken material", they do not avoid difficulties and agree. Yu Mingfang recalled, "this is indeed difficult, but we were confident that we could do it by foreigners." With this unyielding spirit, they conquered the technical difficulties in November 1960, and successfully developed the first Chinese military parachute nylon filament. After that, they broke through the technical difficulties and developed a series of nylon special products for military defense.

　　 Daring to move to the ocean equipment

　　 In 1960s, queuing up to buy "Dacron" became a collective memory of a generation, because the main raw material, polyester staple fiber, was imported. In order to solve this problem, in 1964, the State Science and Technology Commission issued the "annual output of 300 tons of polyester staple fiber pilot" project to the Shanghai synthetic fiber research institute, and pioneered the research on polyester production technology in the whole country. At that time, the Institute did not have a chief engineer, and as deputy director and deputy chief engineer in charge of technical responsibility, Yu Ming Fang was duty bound to undertake the organization and leadership of the project.

　　 At that time, grate spinning technology was widely used in domestic chemical fiber plants. This technology has some problems such as unevenness of quality, blockage of feed and so on. Moreover, the equipment needs to be stopped and cleaned regularly, and the operation is very inconvenient. Yu Mingfang, who has always attached great importance to scientific and technological information, has been looking at the latest technological developments in foreign countries. He has discovered a screw extruding spinning technology that has appeared in the world. The technology has achieved continuous operation and can overcome the shortcomings of the grid spinning technology. In order to shorten the research cycle, Yu Mingfang decided to introduce a set of experimental equipment from West Germany. After installation of the equipment to the plant, there were many problems such as plugging, oil leakage and so on during the commissioning process. Yu Mingfang boldly decided to move the knife to the foreign equipment. "Imported equipment is expensive, and once it fails, the consequences are hard to imagine." Facing the pressure, he organized technicians to move twenty or more knives and equipment before and after the equipment. After continuing experiments, the crux of the failure to continue production was successfully solved. Later, after the advent of the "China Version" screw extruding technology and technology, it became the mainstream technology of melt spinning in China, which greatly accelerated the industrial production of polyester in China and made great contributions to solve the problem of Chinese clothing.

　　 "Cattle shed" liberated to conquer carbon fiber

　　 Carbon fiber is a kind of high-performance fiber material with higher strength than steel and smaller density than aluminum. It is mainly used in the fields of national defense, military industry and aerospace. In order to strengthen national defense strength, the ministries and commissions of the State Science and Technology Commission and the national defense science and Technology Commission jointly issued the carbon fiber research task to Shanghai synthetic fiber Institute in 1969. Yu Mingfang, who was undergoing "ideological transformation" in the "cattle shed", was liberated to participate in leading the research of carbon fiber.

　　 In order to make the research closely follow the international frontiers, Yu Mingfang decided to break through the development of polyacrylonitrile filament through in-depth analysis of the domestic and foreign research situation of carbon fibers. He made the first use of two methyl sulfoxide to prepare raw silk in China, and conquered the key technology of carbon fiber pre oxidation, which made a pioneering contribution to the research of carbon fiber composites in China.

　　 In 70s and 80s twentieth Century, Shanghai synthetic fiber Institute is the main force of high performance fiber research in China. In addition to carbon fiber, Yu Mingfang also organized technical personnel in the aramid 1414, polyimide fiber research has carried out fruitful exploration, during which overcome many unforeseen difficulties. For example, in the development process of aramid fiber, there is an experimental material with great toxicity and serious harm to human body. To minimize damage, the research team kept two birds in the laboratory. Once it was found that the bird hung its head, it showed that the concentration of poisonous gas in the air was very high, which would exhaust the laboratory ventilation. In this way, researchers ignored the toxic gas erosion and insisted on the experiment, and successfully developed aramid 1414.

　　 Yu Mingfang has been exploring in the field of high-performance fiber since 1960s and made pioneering contributions. The State Science and Technology Commission and the national defense science and Technology Commission and other departments commended him for his outstanding contributions in national defense construction. He successively awarded him the honorary title of "advanced individual in coordination management of national defense industry and military cooperation", and the honorary badge dedicated to national defense science and technology.

　　 Flicker negotiators

　　 Yu Mingfang worked for seventeen years in the national cotton mill for 7 years. He has personal experience in the long process, low production efficiency and poor working environment in the textile industry. With the continuous development of China's textile industry, his desire to break through the bottleneck restricting the development of textile industrialization is increasingly strong. In early 1980s, Yu Mingfang learned about nonwoven technology through foreign sci-tech periodicals. He believed that this is an important direction for the development of the textile industry. He decided to speed up the introduction and research of the technology.

　　 He has to spend a lot of money on him, so he has travelled to Shanghai Textile Bureau and textile department for the two time. He has advanced the advanced technology of nonwovens and hopes to support it. In view of the international technology that was not yet mature, the Ministry of textiles and the Shanghai Textile Bureau were concerned. "We are fully capable of introducing and digesting this technology. Even if this technology is not mature, we can do something about it. " Yu Mingfang's faith dispel the worries of the director of science and Technology Department of the Ministry of textiles. Yu Mingfang's application for "direct spinning of polypropylene fibers" was soon established as the national "65" major scientific and technological research project. In 1984, it was designated as the fourth batch of technical transformation projects in Shanghai, and was awarded 2 million 200 thousand yuan by the Ministry of textiles and 900 yuan by Shanghai City loan.

In 1990, Yu Mingfang (right three) participated in the appraisal of "polypropylene fiber direct spinning" project of Shanghai synthetic fiber research institute.

　　 In the installation and commissioning stage of imported equipment, to ensure that every link can not be avoided, Yu Mingfang of the annual flower armor insisted on the scene and acted as a parent. For a time he worked with workers and technicians in three shifts to live with them. On one occasion, in order to see the continuous operation of the machine, Yu Mingfang building went upstairs and went back to patrol. He didn't sleep in the night. He hurried to breakfast and went to negotiate with foreign businessmen without stopping. He did not rest for 36 hours.

　　 The project was successfully put into operation in 1989 and less than three years. Through the introduction, digestion, absorption and innovation, Yu Mingfang successfully developed Spunbonded Nonwovens Technology, playing an exemplary role in understanding the internal structure, production technology and technology management of various spunbonded equipment models in China in the future. After that, the domestic equipment developed by our country gradually occupied the market and helped to push forward the rapid development of spunbonded nonwovens industry. As early as 2006, China's spunbonded cloth production led the world, which is closely related to Yu Mingfang's pioneering contribution. In 2011, he won the "Lifetime Achievement Award" awarded by the China Industrial Textiles Industry Association nonwovens branch.

　　 In 1990, the Shanghai Textile Bureau planned to build an annual output of 70 thousand tons of "polyester chip project", and invited Yu Mingfang to be the chief engineer. He was able to retire for a long time, and happily accepted the heavy responsibility of the organization.

　　 In order to further understand the trend of polyester in the international market, Yu Mingfang visited the United States, Germany, the West and Austria. As the project is the largest investment project in Shanghai textile industry, with huge investment, the Shanghai Textile Bureau has initially decided to implement it in two phases. But through inspection, Yu Mingfang thought that the construction should be done at one time, so that not only can the construction cycle be shortened, but also the cost of imported equipment can be saved by US $10 million. Shanghai Textile Bureau adopted Yu Mingfang's proposal.

　　 In the process of project construction, Yu Mingfang often carried out technical negotiations with foreign countries. He made good use of the advantages of being familiar with technology and English, and made a series of suggestions for improvement. Finally, he signed a contract for importing equipment that was in line with China's interests. "Old Yu, every negotiation can hit the nail on the head. Even foreigners say he is a Chinese expert who can't fool himself." Yu Mingfang's assistant Xie Yujiang said.

　　 In June 1994, the polyester project with an annual output of 70 thousand tons was successfully put into operation in Shanghai, which achieved the situation of production in the year, profit in the year, loan repayment at that time, and foreign exchange earning in the year. It fundamentally changed the situation that Shanghai's textile and chemical fiber materials rely on external supply.

　　 "I am just a technology worker."

　　 In 1995, Yu Mingfang was elected academician, but he was not complacent. Instead, he expressed his regret on many occasions: after more than 30 years of chemical fiber work, the last big project to participate was still to rely on the introduction of technology and equipment. "Through the efforts of chemical fiber producers, our country has realized the development of chemical fiber industry from nothing to development, but it is difficult to conceal its embarrassment, that is, our country is only a large country of chemical fiber, far from being a strong power of chemical fiber."

　　 In a speech, Yu Mingfang said that the leap from a big technology country to a powerful technological country is not only made in China but also in China. As the older generation of workers, they used to catch up, but the super aspect was not satisfactory. In the future, this task needs the younger generation to complete. He reminiscent of the 5 "W" teaching methods of his academician, Professor Gu Yidong, the first "W" is HOW, that is, to know what predecessors think and how to do; the second "W" is WHY, that is, why we want to think so; third, "W" is WETHER, ask ourselves if there are any new ideas; Fourth "W" WHAT, strive to discover new phenomena and questions. The last "W" is WHITHER, to further put forward their own views and solutions to problems. After decades of practical experience, he thinks this method is very useful for learning and research.

　　 In the field of textile materials research, Yu Mingfang proposed to face failure more lenient. To realize the transformation from "big textile country" to "textile power", improving the capability of independent innovation is the key, and it is necessary to strengthen basic research. How to strengthen the links between basic research and applied research? For example, the Chinese Academy of Sciences is mainly engaged in basic research. Most academicians of the Chinese Academy of engineering are engaged in applied research. How to combine the two closely together and let more laboratory achievements be industrialized at an early date is a problem worth exploring continuously, but can not be eager for success.

　　 During his inspection in the United States, Yu Mingfang learned that the success rate of many research groups in the nylon DuPont Co was less than 1/10, which means that 1 of every 10 subjects could finally achieve industrialization. It can be seen that the failure probability of basic research is very high. If we want to make original innovation, we must make adequate psychological preparations. But now, if our country's 973 Plan (national key basic research development plan) fails to make the expected results, the researchers will feel a lot of pressure, because this will affect future application. Yu Mingfang believes that this situation should be changed.

Yu Mingfang, academician, invited to participate in the "technology dream" Chinese dream exhibition of modern Chinese scientists.

　　 In the process of promoting China's transition from "chemical fiber power" to "strong chemical fiber power", Yu Mingfang was invited to join Donghua University as a professor and doctoral supervisor in 2001. Yu Mingfang has introduced "Introduction to materials" and "material methodology" to freshmen and senior graduates.

　　 Yu Mingfang often teaches students to establish a good style of study. His disciple Zhong Jiming published more than 200 references in his thesis, of which 60 were cited. Yu Mingfang spent two whole days reading all the references. "At that time, I was surprised that he only looked at it, but I didn't expect it to go down." Zhong Jiming confessed that he was very surprised at that time.

In order to encourage students to be virtues and virtues, Yu Mingfang added 240 thousand yuan to Qian Baojun education fund to reward students with good moral character. He believes that scholarships now reward students who have outstanding achievements, but those who do not have the opportunity to be praised for their achievements are generally not good for their growth. The school has repeatedly suggested that he set the donation of 240 thousand yuan as "academician scholarship" or "Yu Ming Fang scholarship", but both have been declined. He said: "Mr. Qian Baojun is a very respected chemical fiber expert. In order to express my respect for Mr. Qian, and to inherit Mr. Qian's pursuit of chemical fiber technology, his love for education and his concern for young students, I would be happy to inject 240 thousand yuan into the Qian Baojun Education Fund."

　　 In June 2002, in the flowers and applause, academician Yu Mingfang, who was standing on the podium of the Great Hall of the people, received the certificate of Guanghua Engineering Science and technology award from Song Jian, President of the Chinese Academy of engineering. At that moment, he felt more and more important and shoulder heavy responsibilities. Speaking of decades of ups and downs and brilliant achievements, academician Yu Mingfang said humbly. I am just an ordinary science and technology worker. In the past more than 50 years, I have just done what I should do and made a small contribution to the country and the people. These contributions were not made by me, but by the comrades who worked with me. "

　　 Yu Mingfang's life is a life of struggle and a brilliant life. Never move forward without being tired. Yu Mingfang used his own action to deduce a touching life of silk. His spirit of serving the country scientifically, studying rigorously and teaching tireless will inspire us all the time.

　　 Let's go all the way.

　　 Source: China Science Daily, Donghua University, China Chemical Fiber Industry Association