In its offensive on desertification, China has launched several projects involving sand control, desertification prevention, and wind erosion and salinity management at the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography as a part of its “great green wall” around the massive Taklamakan Desert.
In order to accomplish this, China is using new materials including basalt fiber-based materials or a high performance reinforcing material made from melted volcanic rock, according to a report in China’s Science and Technology Daily. China first used these fibers in a flag placed on the lunar far side with the Chang’e-6 lunar mission, which allowed it to withstand extreme temperatures and strong ultraviolet radiation to help ensure its colors would not fade.
The fibers were made by heating basalt to extremely high temperatures before extruding the melted rock through tiny nozzles. The fibers, which its designer Wuhan Textile University said were cheaper than carbon fiber, can then be used alongside other materials to weave into fabrics.
Pei Liang, a researcher at XIEG and chief scientist of the project on new materials for desertification control told STD that the project was expected to increase the construction efficiency of desertification control by 50% and reduce costs by 30%.
The team will optimize the layout of protective forests to combat wind erosion and develop smart irrigation systems for salt removal, as well as underground pipe and vertical well salt drainage technologies.
