Twenty-first century, developments

As the result of many years of nuclear reactor research and development and weapons production in U.S. defense programs, a large number of sites were contarninated by radioactive materials. A thorough cleanup of this residue of the Cold War is expected to extend well into the twenty-first century and cost many billions of dollars. New technologies are needed to minimi2e the cost of the cleanup operation. 

The chronology of the development of nuclear reactors can be divided into several principal periods pre-1939, before fission was discovered (12) 1939—1945, the time of World War II (13—15) 1945—1963, the era of research, development, and demonstration (16—18) 1963—mid-1990s, during which reactors have been deployed in large numbers throughout the world (10,18) and extending into the twenty-first century, a time when advanced power reactors are expected to be built (19—23). Design of nuclear reactors has been based on a combination of theory, measurement of basic and derived parameters, and experiments with complete systems (24—27). 

As a family of resins originally developed in the early twentieth century, the nature and potential of phenoHc resins have been explored thoroughly to produce an extensive body of technical Hterature (1 8). A symposium sponsored by the American Chemical Society commemorated 75 years of phenoHc resin chemistry in 1983 (9), and in 1987 the PhenoHc Mol ding Division of the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) sponsored a conference on phenoHcs in the twenty-first century (1). 

Continued advances in analytical instmmentation have resulted in improvements in characterization and quantification of chemical species. Many of these advances have resulted from the incorporation of computet technology to provide increased capabiUties in data manipulation and allow for more sophisticated control of instmmental components and experimentation. The development of rniniaturized electronic components built from nondestmctible materials has also played a role as has the advent of new detection devices such as sensors (qv). Analytical instmmentation capabiUties, especially within complex mixtures, are expected to continue to grow into the twenty-first century. 

The twentieth century has often been cahed the Century of Productivity the twenty-first century may well be the Century of Quahty (1). A discussion of how the chemical industry is organized to develop and manufacture quahty products is available (2). 

Minimills and other EAF plants ate expanding iato flat-roUed steel products which, by some estimates, requite 50—75% low residual scrap or alternative raw material. Up to 16 million t of new capacity are expected to be added ia the United States between 1994 and 2000 (18). Developments ia other parts of the world also impact scrap use and supply. Possible scrap deficiencies of several million tons have been projected for EAFs ia East Asia and ia parts of Europe. This puts additional strains on the total scrap supply, particularly low residual scrap (19,20). The question of adequate supply of low residual scrap is always a controversial one. Some analysts see serious global shortages ia the first decade of the twenty-first century others are convinced that the scrap iadustry has the capabiUty to produce scrap ia the quantities and quaUty to meet foreseeable demand. This uncertainty ia combination with high scrap prices has led to iacreased use of scrap alternatives where the latter is price competitive with premium scrap. Use of pig iroa has iacreased ia EAF plants and mote capacity is being iastaHed for DRI and HBI outside the United States. 

Another group of conjugated thiophene molecules for future appHcations are those being developed as nonlinear optical (NLO) devices (75). Replacement of benzene rings with thiophene has an enormous effect on the molecular nonlinearity of such molecules. These NLO molecules are able to switch, route, and modulate light. Technology using such materials should become available by the turn of the twenty-first century. 

Further reduction in the price of carbon fibers may enable penetration into the automotive market. A primary carbon fiber producer has armounced that prices will drop to 700 yen/kg ( 6.80/lb) by 1995 (73) and that cooperative development efforts with a main Japanese automobile producer are underway. Development for use in constmction, such as cement and cable reinforcement, and marine apphcations will result in sustained growth volume through the eady twenty-first century. 

The development of a tritium fuel cycle for fusion reactors is likely to be the focus of tritium chemical research into the twenty-first century. 

Solar energy offers a clean, sustainable alternative to continued use of fossil fuels. In its various forms it is already providing useful amounts of energy on a global basis, and will provide steadily increasing amounts in the twenty-first century, especially as developing countries require more energy to improve their economies. 

Federal Energy Research and Development for the Challenges of the Twenty-First Century. Washington, DC U.S. Government Printing Office. 

Since 1900, manufacturers have made many step changes in the basic design of steam turbines. New technology and materials have been developed to support the industry s elevation of steam conditions, optimization of thermal cycles and unit capacity. Steam turbines will continue to be the principal prime mover for electricity generation well into the twenty-first century. 

As mentioned by the authors in their preface, the achievements in total synthesis have been so numerous and so important that it is clearly impossible to include them all in a single volume. My hope is that Classics in Total Synthesis will be successful and that it will be followed by a continuing series. Such a collection will add to our reading pleasure and further encourage and inspire new generations of chemists to dare the impossible (or even the unfashionable). There is much still to be learned and to be discovered. Humanity will be enriched beyond measure if the twenty-first century is a period of continued vigorous development of synthetic chemistry. 

The twenty-first century demands novel materials of the scientist. New instruments have made possible the field of nanotechnology, in which chemists study particles between 1 and 100 nm in diameter, intermediate between the atomic and the bulk levels of matter. Nanotechnology has the promise to provide new materials such as biosensors that monitor and even repair bodily processes, microscopic computers, artificial bone, and lightweight, remarkably strong materials. To conceive and develop such materials, scientists need a thorough knowledge of the elements and their compounds. 

Therefore, with the twenty-first century near at hand, we hope that you will agree that the change we are making not only represent a cosmetic change of cover, but a change of emphasis which accurately reflects the way in which the science is developing. 

Many academic texts are available to teach chemists the fundamental tools of their trade, but few books are designed to give future industrial research and development chemists the knowledge they need to contribute, with confidence and relevance, to the development of new environmentally benign chemical technology. This book aims to be a handbook for those chemists attempting to develop new processes and products for the twenty-first century, which meet the evermore stringent demands of a society that wants new products with improved performance, and with a lower financial and environmental price tag. 

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