简介:Ananalysisofthepresentandofthefutureoftherefractoriesindustryisbeingpresented,consideringsomeimportanttechnical,economical,humaandenvironmentalissues,onaworldwidebasis.Refractoriesarestillneededasconfinementmaterialstopreventheatandmasstransferlossesinmanydiversemanufacturingindustries,andwillremainso,butthemainchallenges,thisindustrydoneedtomeet,aretoadjusttoanovercapacityproduction,tocopewithnewneedsofthecustomers,inparticularthe"outsourcing",whichisanewcustomer/supplierrelationshipbeingadoptedbymanyofthem,andtokeeptheresearchanddevelopmentaliveinamoreandmorecompetitivearena.Amongthedirectconsequences,aretheneedtokeeptheeducationworldinrefractoryengineeringtrainingaliveandtocopewithmacroandmicroprojectstochangetheimageoftheRefractories,fromacommoditymaterialtoasophisticated"high-tech"compositematenal.Somesuggestionsareprovidedinthetext.
简介:Thisyearmarksthe50thanniversaryofthebeginningofdiplomaticrelationsbetweenChinaandAfricancountries.Overthepasthalfacentury,withthejointeffortsbytheleadersandpeoplesofChinaandAfrica,thefriendshipbetweenChinaandAfricahasbeenincreasinglyconsolidatedandtherelationsbetweenthetwosideshavegrowntoanewhigh.InNovemberthisyear,theBeijingSummitandtheThirdMinisterialMeetingoftheChina-AfricaCooperationForumwillbeheldinBeijingtodiscussthefurtherstrengtheningoftherelationsandcooperationbetweenChinaandAfrica.Tocommemoratethesehistoricevents,thecurrentissueofthisJournalisbringingoutfourarticleswithregardtoSino-AfricanrelationsandthesituationinAfricatosharewithourreaders.