Academician Zhang Lina began to set foot in the field of scientific research at the age of 46. Before that, she had been struggling on the road of studying. She studied in Japan. While studying abroad, Zhang Lina worked very hard and was addicted to scientific research. After Zhang Lina returned from studying abroad, he immediately set up his own research team and started the research on polymer materials and polymer physics. The scientific research conditions were difficult, but Zhang Lina broke through many difficulties and completed the research. In the era when Zhang Lina set up a team to study polymer materials, to be honest, the national economy was not very good, the research conditions were very poor, and even some equipment needed for research was purchased by Zhang Lina himself. It was in such a difficult scientific research environment that Zhang Lina and her team got the later scientific research results with their indomitable will to overcome difficulties.
Zhang Lina was the inventor of urea. Urea is a solvent that can turn insoluble cellulose into mucus in a minute or two. Dissolving cellulose with urea breaks the traditional way of cellulose dissolution and makes cellulose dissolution more environmentally friendly. The invention of using urea is internationally recognized, and Zhang Lina won the international prize for this invention.
Academician Zhang Lina not only invented urea which can dissolve cellulose conveniently, but also explored new production methods of rayon and cellophane. Zhang Lina has always adhered to the goal of benefiting mankind with science, and she has also practiced her ideas with practical actions. Academician Zhang Lina is great and selfless.