Inside the furnace, the metal powder in the mold gave off an extremely bright glow, yet it did not melt immediately.
Both Metal Rhenium and Metal Tungsten were exceptionally heat-resistant, with very high melting points—one of the main reasons they were used to cast the internal components of nuclear weapons. Simple heating could not rapidly change their form; further operations were required.
Pressurization.
"Crack!"
With a sharp sound, Richard pulled down a lever outside the furnace.
"Hum, hum, hum!"
A faint rumble rose as the air pump began operating, injecting inert argon gas into the sealed furnace to increase the pressure.
At last, under the combined effects of high temperature and high pressure, the Metal Tungsten and Metal Rhenium gradually melted, successfully sintering into blocks of Rhenium-Tungsten Alloy.
Richard worked in front of the furnace for a long time, producing several hundred sintered Rhenium-Tungsten Alloy components.
These components were quite rough and needed further processing to reduce their tolerances and meet the numerical requirements of the Nuclear Weapon blueprints.
But regardless, the second stage of Nuclear Weapon production was complete.
Then came the third stage.
Richard stretched his body and left the furnace.
The third stage was carried out in Eden Garden's highest-level laboratory—the underground laboratory in the Hazardous Materials Sector.
This time, he would process Metal Beryllium.
Metal Beryllium was considered a non-toxic element, but beryllium powder easily reacted with air and turned into beryllium oxide. Once the human body absorbed beryllium oxide, it could react within the body and transform into beryllium hydroxide, causing beryllium poisoning pneumonia—enough to be fatal.
For this reason, Richard put on a full set of protective gear. On one hand, it was for absolute safety; on the other, it served as practice for the next procedure.
In Eden Garden's highest-level underground