《化学工程与工艺专业英语》课文翻译(5)

Plastics and polymers have made a considerable impact on leisure activities with applications ranging from 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.

塑料和高聚物的应用对休闲活动有很重要的影响，从体育跑道的全天候人造篷顶，足球和网球的经纬线，到球拍的尼龙线还有高尔夫球的元件，还有制造足球的合成材料。

Likewise the chemical industry‘s 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 12000 miles. Research and development work has also resulted 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 materials—dashboard, steering wheel, seat padding and covering etc.—now exceeding 40%.

多年来化学工业对旅游方面所作的贡献也有很大的提高。一些添加剂如抗氧化剂的开发和发动机油粘度指数改进使汽车日产维修期限从3000英里延长到6000英里再到12000英里。研发工作还改进了润滑油和油脂的性能，并得到了更好的刹车油。塑料和高聚物对整个汽车业的贡献的比例是惊人的，源于这些材料—挡板，轮胎，坐垫和涂层等等—超过40%。

So it is quite apparent even from a brief look at the chemical industry‘s contribution to meeting our major needs that life in the world would be very different without the products of the industry. Indeed the level of a country‘s 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的主要需求方面所做的贡献就可以知道，没有化工产品人类社会的生活将会多么困难。事实上，一个国家的发展水平可以通过其化学工业的生产水平和精细程度来加以判断。

4. Research and Development (R&D) in Chemical 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 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 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 research department is usually one of the first to suffer cutbacks, the commitment to R&D remains at a very high level.

4．化学工业的研究和开发。

发达国家化学工业飞速发展的一个重要原因就是它在研究和开发方面的投入和投资。通常是销售收入的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的百分数不是指利润而是指销售收入，也就是说全部回收的钱，其中包括要付出原材料费，企业管理费，员工工资等等。过去这笔巨大的投资支付得很好，使得许多有用的和有价值的产品