Published by: National Key Laboratory of Advanced Refractories Edited by:

WUST News - From October 26 to 30, the 19th Unified International Technical Conference of Refractories (UNITECR 2025) was held in Cancún, Mexico. Organized by the Asociación Latinoamericana de Fabricantes de Refractarios (ALAFAR) under the theme "Sustainability Meets Intelligence - Shaping the Future of Refractories", the conference highlighted the critical role of refractories in enhancing the performance and sustainability of user industries, exploring integrated value-chain solutions, and supporting the development of a more efficient circular economy. Professor Yuan Wenjie from the State Key Laboratory of Advanced Refractories at Wuhan University of Science and Technology (WUST) was invited to attend the conference.

During the conference, Professor Yuan delivered an academic report titled "Improving Thermal Shock Resistance of Mullite Castables by Utilizing Dimensionless Parameters Derived from Buckingham Π Theorem", which garnered significant attention and stimulated lively discussion. He also chaired the session on "Basic Refractory Science and Technology Transfer / Interaction between H2 and Refractory Materials I", actively engaging in various academic exchange activities.

Additionally, Professor Yuan held discussions with renowned international scholars including Professor Victor C. Pandolfelli and Dr. Vania Regina Salvini from the Federal University of São Carlos, reaching preliminary consensus on future collaboration directions. He also introduced Dr. Charles E. Semler, a UNITECR Lifetime Distinguished Member, to WUST's latest advances in refractory research and education, extending a formal invitation for a campus visit.

Photo with Professor Victor C. Pandolfelli and Dr. Vania Regina Salvini

On October 31, at the invitation of Professor Sergio Javier Garcia Nunez from the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering at the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Professor Yuan visited the department and delivered an academic report titled "Thermal Shock Resistance of Refractories and the Application of New Refractory Raw Materials". Following the report, both parties engaged in in-depth discussions on scientific research collaboration and joint talent cultivation, reaching a preliminary cooperation intention.

This visit further strengthened WUST's international academic influence in refractories research, laying a solid foundation for expanding high-level international cooperation and advancing the internationalization of WUST’s disciplinary development..

Group Photo at the IPN Presentation