1、Unit 1 Chemical Industry化学工业Before reading the text below, try to answer following question:1. When did the modern chemical industry start?2. Can you give a definition for the chemical industry?3. What are the contribution which the chemical industry has made to meet and satisfy our needs?4. Is the
2、chemical industry capital- or labor-intensive? Why?1.Origins of the Chemical Industry Although the use of chemicals dates back to the ancient civilizations, the evolution of what we know as the modern chemical industry started much more recently. It may be considered to have begun during the Industr
3、ial Revolution, about 1800, and developed to provide chemicals roe use by other industries. Examples are alkali for soapmaking, bleaching powder for cotton, and silica and sodium carbonate for glassmaking. It will be noted that these are all inorganic chemicals. The organic chemicals industry starte
4、d in the 1860s with the exploitation of William Henry Perkins discovery if the first synthetic dyestuffmauve. At the start of the twentieth century the emphasis on research on the applied aspects of chemistry in Germany had paid off handsomely, and by 1914 had resulted in the German chemical industr
5、y having 75% of the world market in chemicals. This was based on the discovery of new dyestuffs plus the development of both the contact process for sulphuric acid and the Haber process for ammonia. The later required a major technological breakthrough that of being able to carry out chemical reacti
6、ons under conditions of very high pressure for the first time. The experience gained with this was to stand Germany in good stead, particularly with the rapidly increased demand for nitrogen-based compounds (ammonium salts for fertilizers and nitric acid for explosives manufacture) with the outbreak
7、 of world warin 1914. This initiated profound changes which continued during the inter-war years (1918-1939).1 化学工业起源尽管化学品使用能够追溯到古代文明时代,我们所谓现代化学工业发展却是很近代(才开始)。能够认为它起源于工业革命其间,大约在18,并发展成为为其它工业部门提供化学原料产业。比如制肥皂所用碱,棉布生产所用漂白粉,玻璃制造业所用硅及Na2CO3. 我们会注意到全部这些全部是无机物。有机化学工业开始是在十九世纪六十年代以William Henry Perkin 发觉第一个合
8、成染料苯胺紫并加以开发利用为标志。20世纪初,德国花费大量资金用于实用化学方面关键研究,到19,德国化学工业在世界化学产品市场上占有75%份额。这要归因于新染料发觉和硫酸接触法生产和氨哈伯生产工艺发展。以后者需要较大技术突破使得化学反应第一次能够在很高压力条件下进行。这方面所取得成绩对德国很有帮助。尤其是因为19第一次世界大仗爆发,对以氮为基础化合物需求飞速增加。这种深刻改变一直连续到战后(1918-1939)。date bake to/from: 回溯到dated: 过时,陈旧stand sb. in good stead: 对。很有帮助Since 1940 the chemical ind
9、ustry has grown at a remarkable rate, although this has slowed significantly in recent years. The lions share of this growth has been in the organic chemicals sector due to the development and growth of the petrochemicals area since 1950s. The explosives growth in petrochemicals in the 1960s and 197
10、0s was largely due to the enormous increase in demand for synthetic polymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polyesters and epoxy resins.1940年以来,化学工业一直以引人注目标速度飞速发展。尽管这种发展速度多年来已大大减慢。化学工业发展因为1950年以来石油化学领域研究和开发大部分在有机化学方面取得。石油化工在60年代和70年代迅猛发展关键是因为大家对于合成高聚物如聚乙烯、聚丙烯、尼龙、聚脂和环氧树脂需求巨大增加。The chemic
11、al industry today is a very diverse sector of manufacturing industry, within which it plays a central role. It makes thousands of different chemicals which the general public only usually encounter as end or consumer products. These products are purchased because they have the required properties wh
12、ich make them suitable for some particular application, e.g. a non-stick coating for pans or a weedkiller. Thus chemicals are ultimately sold for the effects that they produce. 今天化学工业已经是制造业中有着很多分支部门,而且在制造业中起着关键作用。它生产了数千种不一样化学产品,而大家通常只接触到终端产品或消费品。这些产品被购置是因为她们含有一些性质适合(大家)部分尤其用途,比如,用于盆不粘涂层或一个杀虫剂。这些化学产品
13、归根到底是因为它们能产生作用而被购置。2. Definition of the Chemical IndustryAt the turn of the century there would have been little difficulty in defining what constituted the chemical industry since only a very limited range of products was manufactured and these were clearly chemicals, e.g., alkali, sulphuric acid.
14、At present, however, many intermediates to products produced, from raw materials like crude oil through (in some cases) many intermediates to products which may be used directly as consumer goods, or readily converted into them. The difficulty cones in deciding at which point in this sequence the pa
15、rticular operation ceases to be part of the chemical industrys sphere of activities. To consider a specific example to illustrate this dilemma, emulsion paints may contain poly (vinyl chloride) / poly (vinyl acetate). Clearly, synthesis of vinyl chloride (or acetate) and its polymerization are chemi
16、cal activities. However, if formulation and mixing of the paint, including the polymer, is carried out by a branch of the multinational chemical company which manufactured the ingredients, is this still part of the chemical industry of does it mow belong in the decorating industry?2 化学工业定义在本世纪初,要定义什
17、么是化学工业是不太困难,因为那时所生产化学品是很有限,而且是很清楚化学品,比如,烧碱,硫酸。然而现在有数千种化学产品被生产,从部分原料物质像用于制备很多半成品石油,到能够直接作为消费品或很轻易转化为消费品商品。困难在于怎样决定在部分特殊生产过程中哪一个步骤不再属于化学工业活动范围。举一个特殊例子来描述一下这种困境。乳剂漆含有聚氯乙烯/聚醋酸乙烯。显然,氯乙烯(或醋酸乙烯)合成和聚合是化学活动。然而,假如这种漆,包含高聚物,它配制和混合是由一家制造配料跨国化学企业完成话,那它仍然是属于化学工业呢还是应该归属于装饰工业中去呢?It is therefore apparent that, becau
18、se of its diversity of operations and close links in many areas with other industries, there is no simple definition of the chemical industry. Instead each official body which collects and publishes statistics on manufacturing industry will have its definition as to which operations are classified a
19、s the chemical industry. It is important to bear this in mind when comparing statistical information which is derived from several sources. 所以,很显著,因为化学工业经营种类很多并在很多领域和其它工业有亲密联络,所以不能对它下一个简单定义。相反每一个搜集和出版制造工业统计数据官方机构全部会对怎样届定哪一类操作为化学工业有自己定义。当比较来自不一样路径统计资料时,记住这点是很关键。3. The Need for Chemical IndustryThe ch
20、emical industry is concerned with converting raw materials, such as crude oil, firstly into chemical intermediates and then into a tremendous variety of other chemicals. These are then used to produce consumer products, which make our lives more comfortable or, in some cases such as pharmaceutical p
21、roduces, help to maintain our well-being or even life itself. At each stage of these operations value is added to the produce and provided this added exceeds the raw material plus processing costs then a profit will be made on the operation. It is the aim of chemical industry to achieve this.3 对化学工业
22、需要化学工业包含到原材料转化,如石油 首先转化为化学中间体,然后转化为数量众多其它化学产品。这些产品再被用来生产消费品,这些消费品能够使我们生活更为舒适或作药品维持人类健康或生命。在生产过程每一个阶段,全部有价值加到产品上面,只要这些附加价值超出原材料和加工成本之和,这个加工就产生了利润。而这正是化学工业要达成目标。It may seem strange in textbook this one to pose the question “do we need a chemical industry?” However trying to answer this question will p
23、rovide() an indication of the range of the chemical industrys activities, () its influence on our lives in everyday terms, and () how great is societys need for a chemical industry. Our approach in answering the question will be to consider the industrys contribution to meeting and satisfying our ma
24、jor needs. What are these? Clearly food (and drink) and health are paramount. Other which we shall consider in their turn are clothing and (briefly) shelter, leisure and transport.在这么一本教科书中提出:“我们需要化学工业吗?”这么一个问题是不是有点奇怪呢?然而,先回复下面多个问题将给我们提供部分信息:(1)化学工业活动范围,(2)化学工业对我们日常生活影响,(3)社会对化学工业需求有多大。在回复这些问题时候我们思绪
25、将要考虑化学工业在满足和改善我们关键需求方面所做贡献。是些什么需求呢?很显然,食物和健康是放在第一位。其它我们要考虑按次序是衣物、住所、休闲和旅行。(1) Food. The chemical industry makes a major contribution to food production in at least three ways. Firstly, by making available large quantities of artificial fertilizers which are used to replace the elements (mainly nitro
26、gen, phosphorus and potassium) which are removed as nutrients by the growing crops during modern intensive farming. Secondly, by manufacturing crop protection chemicals, i.e., pesticides, which markedly reduce the proportion of the crops consumed by pests. Thirdly, by producing veterinary products w
27、hich protect livestock from disease or cure their infections.(1)食物。化学工业对粮食生产所做巨大贡献最少有三个方面。第一,提供大量能够取得肥料以补充因为密集耕作被农作物生长时所带走营养成份。(关键是氮、磷和钾)。第二,生产农作物保护产品,如杀虫剂,它能够显著降低害虫所消耗粮食数量。第三,生产兽药保护家禽免遭疾病或其它感染侵害。(2) Health. We are all aware of the major contribution which the pharmaceutical sector of the industry h
28、as made to help keep us all healthy, e.g. by curing bacterial infections with antibiotics, and even extending life itself, e.g. blockers to lower blood pressure.(2)健康。我们全部很了解化学工业中制药这一块在维护我们身体健康甚至延长寿命方面所做出巨大贡献,比如,用抗生素诊疗细菌感染,用-抗血栓降低血压。(3) Clothing. The improvement in properties of modern synthetic fib
29、ers over the traditional clothing materials (e.g. cotton and wool) has been quite remarkable. Thus shirts, dresses and suits made from polyesters like Terylene and polyamides like Nylon are crease-resistant, machine-washable, and drip-dry or non-iron. They are also cheaper than natural materials.衣物。
30、在传统衣服面料上,现代合成纤维性质改善也是很显著。用聚脂如涤纶或聚酰胺如尼龙所制作T恤、上衣、衬衫抗皱、可机洗,晒干自挺或免烫,也比天然面料廉价。Parallel developments in the discovery of modern synthetic dyes and the technology to “bond” them to the fiber has resulted in a tremendous increase in the variety of colors available to the fashion designer. Indeed they now sp
31、an almost every color and hue of the visible spectrum. Indeed if a suitable shade is not available, structural modification of an existing dye to achieve this can readily be carried out, provided there is a satisfactory market for the product.和此同时,现代合成染料开发和染色技术改善使得时装设计师们有大量色彩能够利用。确实她们几乎利用了可见光谱中全部色调和
32、色素。实际上假如某种颜色没有现成,只要这种产品确有市场,就能够很轻易地经过对现有色彩进行结构调整而取得。Other major advances in this sphere have been in color-fastness, i.e., resistance to the dye being washed out when the garment is cleaned.这一领域中另部分关键进展是不褪色,即在洗涤衣物时染料不会被洗掉。(4) Shelter, leisure and transport. In terms of shelter the contribution of mo
33、dern synthetic polymers has been substantial. Plastics are tending to replace traditional building materials like wood because they are lighter, maintenance-free (i.e. they are resistant to weathering and do not need painting). Other polymers, e.g. urea-formaldehyde and polyurethanes, are important
34、insulating materials for reducing heat losses and hence reducing energy usage.(4)住所,休闲和旅游。讲到住所方面现代合成高聚物贡献是巨大。塑料正在替换像木材一类传统建筑材料,因为它们更轻,免维护(即它们能够抵御风化,不需油漆)。另部分高聚物,比如,脲甲醛和聚脲,是很关键绝缘材料能够降低热量损失所以降低能量损耗。Plastics and polymers have made a considerable impact on leisure activities with applications ranging fr
35、om all-weather artificial surfaces for athletic tracks, football pitches and tennis courts to nylon strings for racquets and items like golf balls and footballs made entirely from synthetic materials.塑料和高聚物应用对休闲活动有很关键影响,从体育跑道全天候人造篷顶,足球和网球经纬线,到球拍尼龙线还有高尔夫球元件,还有制造足球合成材料。Likewise the chemical industrys
36、contribution to transport over the years has led to major improvements. Thus development of improved additives like anti-oxidants and viscosity index improves for engine oil has enabled routine servicing intervals to increase from 3000 to 6000 to 1 miles. Research and development work has also resul
37、ted in improved lubricating oils and greases, and better brake fluids. Yet again the contribution of polymers and plastics has been very striking with the proportion of the total automobile derived from these materialsdashboard, steering wheel, seat padding and covering etc.now exceeding 40%.多年来化学工业
38、对旅游方面所作贡献也有很大提升。部分添加剂如抗氧化剂开发和发动机油粘度指数改善使汽车日产维修期限从3000英里延长到6000英里再到1英里。研发工作还改善了润滑油和油脂性能,并得到了愈加好刹车油。塑料和高聚物对整个汽车业贡献百分比是惊人,源于这些材料挡板,轮胎,坐垫和涂层等等超出40%。So it is quite apparent even from a brief look at the chemical industrys contribution to meeting our major needs that life in the world would be very differ
39、ent without the products of the industry. Indeed the level of a countrys development may be judged by the production level and sophistication of its chemical industry.很显然简单地看一下化学工业在满足我们关键需求方面所做贡献就能够知道,没有化工产品人类社会生活将会多么困难。实际上,一个国家发展水平能够经过其化学工业生产水平和精细程度来加以判定。4. Research and Development (R&D) in Chemica
40、l Industries One of the main reasons for the rapid growth of the chemical industry in the developed world has been its great commitment to, and investment in research and development (R&D). A typical figure is 5% of sales income, with this figure being almost doubled for the most research intensive
41、sector, pharmaceuticals. It is important to emphasize that we are quoting percentages here not of profits but of sales income, i.e. the total money received, which has to pay for raw materials, overheads, staff salaries, etc. as well. In the past this tremendous investment has paid off well, leading
42、 to many useful and valuable products being introduced to the market. Examples include synthetic polymers like nylons and polyesters, and drugs and pesticides. Although the number of new products introduced to the market has declined significantly in recent years, and in times of recession the resea
43、rch department is usually one of the first to suffer cutbacks, the commitment to R&D remains at a very high level.4 化学工业研究和开发。发达国家化学工业飞速发展一个关键原因就是它在研究和开发方面投入和投资。通常是销售收入5%,而研究密集型分支如制药,投入则加倍。要强调这里我们所提出百分数不是指利润而是指销售收入,也就是说全部回收钱,其中包含要付出原材料费,企业管理费,职员工资等等。过去这笔巨大投资支付得很好,使得很多有用和有价值产品被投放市场,包含部分合成高聚物如尼龙和聚脂,药品
44、和杀虫剂。尽管多年来进入市场新产品大为降低,而且在衰退时期研究部门通常是最先被淘汰部门,在研究和开发方面投资仍然保持在较高水平。The chemical industry is a very high technology industry which takes full advantage of the latest advances in electronics and engineering. Computers are very widely used for all sorts of applications, from automatic control of chemical
45、plants, to molecular modeling of structures of new compounds, to the control of analytical instruments in the laboratory.化学工业是高技术工业,它需要利用电子学和工程学最新结果。计算机被广泛应用,从化工厂自动控制,到新化合物结构分子模拟,再到试验室分析仪器控制。Individual manufacturing plants have capacities ranging from just a few tones per year in the fine chemicals
46、area to the real giants in the fertilizer and petrochemical sectors which range up to 500,000 tonnes. The latter requires enormous capital investment, since a single plant of this size can now cost $520 million! This, coupled with the widespread use of automatic control equipment, helps to explain w
47、hy the chemical industry is capital-rather than labor-intensive.一个制造厂生产量很不一样,精细化工领域每十二个月只有几吨,而巨型企业如化肥厂和石油化工厂有可能高达500,000吨。后者需要巨大资金投入,因为一个这么规模工厂要花费2亿5千万美元,再加上自动控制设备普遍应用,就不难解释为何化工厂是资金密集型企业而不是劳动力密集型企业。The major chemical companies are truly multinational and operate their sales and marketing activities
48、in most of the countries of the world, and they also have manufacturing units in a number of countries. This international outlook for operations, or globalization, is a growing trend within the chemical industry, with companies expanding their activities either by erecting manufacturing units in ot
49、her countries or by taking over companies which are already operating there.大部分化学企业是真正跨国企业,她们在世界上很多国家进行销售和开发市场,她们在很多国家全部有制造厂。这种国际间合作理念,或全球一体化,是化学工业中发展趋势。大企业经过在别国家建造制造厂或是收购已经有工厂进行扩张。Unit 2 Research and Development研究和开发Research and development, or R&D as it is commonly referred to, is an activity which is carried out by all sectors of manufacturing industry b