Refractories are materials that resist high temperatures, liquid slags and aggressive atmospheres, and do not change form (e.g., burn or melt) in service.

Globally, the quest has been on to find ultra-high-strength composites, leading scientists at the University of Southampton’s Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) to investigate light, ultra-high-strength nanowires that are not compromised by defects.

Growth in most sectors continues as the worldwide economic crisis slowly lessens.