CCTV investigates the truth about the 55-degree cup: Can you call this high-tech?

【Introduction】

Recently, a temperature-changing water cup called the "55-degree cup" has become a hot topic of concern because of its magical function. Whether it is hot water or cold water, just pour it into the cup and shake it, and it will become 55-degree warm water suitable for people to drink. Is the magic tool really so magical? Now let's take a look at the reporter's investigation.

[Text] (55 Degree Cup Promotional Video) Voice source: 55 Degree Cup Product Manager

"When you wake up in the morning, the first cup you drink is overnight water or freshly boiled water. Shake it before drinking. The 55-degree cup will instantly make you drink warm water. Pour cold water into the water and shake it, and it will instantly become warm water. All this is just to let you drink healthy 55-degree warm water anytime, anywhere."

A simple introduction allows us to witness the magic of a variable temperature water cup. This first "fast temperature-changing water cup" independently developed, designed and produced by "Beijing 55 Degree Technology Co., Ltd." instantly became popular on the Internet due to its powerful functions and became the new favorite of major e-commerce companies.

Although the price of the water cups, ranging from 298 yuan to more than 300 yuan, is much higher than most thermos cups on the market, their magical effects are still popular among consumers, and there are even situations such as "sold out in 10 minutes" and "insufficient supply".

The reporter checked the official flagship store of 55 Degree Cup on Taobao and found that the sales volume this month was about 7,000. On the homepage of its cooperating e-commerce company, this water cup has also become the best-selling outdoor water cup. Is the function of the water cup really as magical as it is advertised?

The reporter took the genuine 55-degree water cup he bought and went to the Beijing Physical and Chemical Analysis and Testing Center to test the heating and cooling effects of the cup. After pouring 100-degree boiling water into the cup, he shook it. After one minute, the temperature did drop to about 55 degrees. Then, the reporter poured cold water into the cup. After one minute of shaking, the water temperature only rose to 34 degrees, not reaching the 55 degrees in the promotional video. After the process of cooling and heating, it must be about an hour before the cup can have the cooling function again. In other words, cooling and heating must meet specific conditions, and it is not as arbitrary as claimed in the promotion.

There are also a lot of negative reviews from users on the Internet, such as "It doesn't keep heat, and the cooling and heating effects are not good", "The cold water is just not cold at all", "It's just lukewarm at best", and "It's a scam".

At the same time, the reporter measured the weight of the cup after it was filled with water and it was about 900 grams, which is about the weight of two bottles of ordinary mineral water, while its water storage capacity is only 280 milliliters, less than half a bottle of ordinary mineral water. When cooling down, users need to shake the cup, which is equivalent to the weight of two bottles of mineral water, which also caused complaints from users.

【Same period】Street interview

The feeling of use is that the wrist hurts when shaking.

【Same period】Street interview

It is big and heavy and inconvenient to use.

[Investigation on the truth of the 55-degree cup] Reporter exclusively reveals the "high-tech water cup"

【Introduction】

In response to users' questions, the official website of 55 Degree Cup stated that the water cup is a high-tech product with a utility model patent, and its core is to achieve the functions of heating and cooling through phase change materials.

The so-called "phase change", to put it simply, can also be understood as a change in the state of matter. For example, the change between solid, liquid and gas phases is a typical example of phase change.

The reporter also conducted an investigation to find out whether this water cup is really a high-tech product containing phase change metal materials as the manufacturer claimed.

【text】

On the official promotional page of the 55-degree cup, the reporter saw the following introduction: "In the food-grade stainless steel interlayer, we store a micron-level heat transfer material that undergoes a reversible solid-liquid conversion as the temperature changes."

Based on this introduction, the reporter, with the assistance of professional technicians from the Beijing Physical and Chemical Analysis and Testing Center, conducted tests on the liquid in the cup.

The results showed that no matter whether the liquid was placed in boiling water or taken out of boiling water and immediately placed in ice water, after staying for a period of time, the liquid in the cup did not show the so-called "solid-liquid conversion".

As for whether the cup wall and the interlayer liquid in the cup contain physical phase change materials, the reporter also commissioned technicians to conduct professional testing. The results showed that the main components of the 55-degree cup wall are iron, chromium, and nickel, with a ratio of 12:3:1 respectively.

【Concurrent】Wu Guangheng, Researcher at the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Personally, I think this is very similar to the stainless steel we use in our homes and food.

【text】

The test report also shows that most of the liquid in the cup is sodium chloride aqueous solution, with a small amount of solid titanium dioxide and iron oxide. In the organic matter test, the total organic carbon content is 37.31 mg/L.

【Concurrent】Wu Guangheng, Researcher at the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

According to the test report, the liquid is mainly water, and there is a large amount of sodium chloride, which is what we call table salt, and it is a very high concentration of sodium chloride in water. Then it detected relatively little organic matter in the liquid, and its carbon content is about 3%, and there is a very small amount of solid matter. The inspection report believes that there are titanium dioxide and iron oxide in this liquid, but even if this little bit of solid matter undergoes a phase change, the physical impact it causes, such as heating and cooling, is negligible.

【text】

At this point in the investigation, the truth about the 55-degree cup has gradually surfaced. Ordinary aluminum alloy, with a large amount of salt water in the interlayer, is labeled as a high-tech product.

At the same time, the reporter also found a utility model patent certificate issued by 55 Degree Cup, claiming that it has a strategic cooperation relationship with the company that owns the patent in the form of technology investment. The introduction of this patent states that the characteristic of the rapid cooling thermos cup is that the phase change metal is filled between the heat conductive layer and the heat insulating layer, and the phase change metal quickly absorbs heat and melts, and the temperature of the hot water decreases. Both the physical observation of the phenomenon and the experimental results of the testing center are inconsistent with the patent issued by 55 Degree Cup Company.

【Concurrent】Wu Guangheng, Researcher at the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

The most obvious point in the patent is the use of phase change metals. According to the test report, I believe that all the metals in it will not undergo phase change within the temperature change range in our daily lives.

[Concurrently] Qiu Baochang, legal counsel of China Consumers Association

Your production fully utilizes patented technology, so you can promote it as a patented product, but you are selling dog meat under the guise of sheep meat. Although you have this patent, you do not use it in the production of water cups. I think this is an improper citation to mislead consumers.

[55-degree cup truth investigation] On-site experiment on how to make a 55-degree cup

【Introduction】

After testing, it was found that the 55-degree cup does not contain the so-called high-tech phase change material, so how does it achieve physical cooling? In fact, this is a very simple physical principle, and now the reporter will reveal it to you.

【Main text】Reporter Zhang Chunling

Now, I will do a small experiment with two little science experts. Through this experiment, we can restore the working principle of the 55-degree cup. The experimental materials we choose are very simple. You have them at home in your daily life. What is it? It is tap water.

【text】

The reporter and two science enthusiasts poured tap water into the interlayer of the stainless steel cup as a heat storage material and tested it with a temperature sensor. The test results showed that boiling water poured into the cup can quickly cool down to about 55 degrees within one minute, and cold water poured into the cup can also quickly heat up to about 30 degrees. This temperature rise and fall curve is roughly consistent with the temperature rise data given by the official 55-degree cup. This process is actually the simplest heat conduction principle in our physics knowledge.

The hot water meets the stainless steel cup wall with good thermal conductivity, and the cup wall transfers the temperature to the lower room temperature water. After a certain period of time, the temperature on both sides of the cup wall reaches equilibrium, and this value is just around 55 degrees. The water in the cup heats up in the same way. The temperature of the interlayer liquid is around 55 degrees, which is transferred to the cold water through the cup wall. Subsequently, the cold water heats up to around 30 degrees.

【Concurrent】Wu Guangheng, Researcher at the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

For example, heat is transferred from hot things to cold things, such as the teppanyaki or bibimbap we eat in restaurants. The iron plate and stone pot are heated over the fire, and then cold dishes are poured into them. Isn't that the same as pouring cold water into a hot cup to heat it up?

【text】

Using this principle, you can also make a quick cooling cup at home by using two stainless steel containers of different sizes and placing cold water in the middle. The phase change material mentioned many times in the promotion of the 55-degree cup simply means that physical materials can change their shape and structure under certain conditions.

In the physics laboratory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the reporter experienced the magic of phase change materials. The metal flowers made of phase change materials bloomed when exposed to hot water, and were in bud when taken out. According to experts, phase change materials are actually not uncommon in life.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.