While ceramics have been in use since ancient times, the development of science and technology has led to the rapid development of modern ceramic materials with exceptional properties. These materials have found widespread use across various industries, including the military sector, where their unique properties make them highly valued.

One day, a mysterious air force pilot who had worked at the U.S. Nuclear Test Site visited the new materials research center in the United States and brought a new research topic. It was discovered that a detonation of an explosive energy equivalent to 20,000 tons of TNT, released in three seconds with radiation of 7 billion calories, could cause severe eye damage from the nuclear flash, even if the person was far away from the explosion site. Unfortunately, protective glasses were not effective in time to prevent the pilot from suffering eye damage.

Researchers had previously designed a protective helmet for this purpose, but it required a high-voltage power supply controlled by dozens of kilograms of silicon steel transformers, which was inconvenient and heavy for the pilot to carry. Therefore, they sought the help of the New Materials Research Center to develop new materials for goggles.

After experimenting with various materials, researchers selected a special type of "polarizing" ceramic, which could transform mechanical force and light energy into electric energy, and vice versa, under the action of an electric field. This unique property is known as the "piezoelectric effect," and ceramics with this property are called piezoelectric ceramics.

The researchers created special goggles made of transparent piezoelectric ceramics, which could automatically dim to reduce the intensity of light to only one-millionth of the original in a thousandth of a second when the nuclear flash intensity reached a dangerous level. The control device of the photoelectric protective eyepiece converted the flash into a transient high voltage, triggering the goggles' protective mechanism. After the danger had passed, the goggles would automatically recover without affecting the tester's vision. These piezoelectric ceramic goggles were lightweight, weighing only a few dozen grams and as small as a matchbox, making them easy to install on the anti-nuclear helmet.

In conclusion, modern ceramic materials have exceptional properties that make them valuable across various industries, including the military. The discovery of the piezoelectric effect in ceramics has led to the development of innovative solutions, such as the piezoelectric ceramic goggles designed by researchers to protect air force pilots from the damaging effects of nuclear flashes. The goggles' automatic dimming and quick recovery features make them a lightweight, convenient, and effective solution to the problem of protecting pilots' eyes during nuclear testing. The development of such materials demonstrates the importance of ongoing research in material science and the significant impact it can have on our daily lives.

For more information about ceramic materials, please visit our homepage.