Abstract: [Objects] Provided is an ionomer resin composition that, when molded into a film shape, is small in both of orientational birefringence and photoelastic birefringence and excellent in transparency, heat resistance, flexibility, and size stability. Additionally, provided are an optical film including the ionomer resin composition, a polarizing plate including the optical film, and a liquid crystal display apparatus including the same.

Abstract: The present invention is a skin cosmetic comprising agar hydrogel particles having an average particle size of 0.2-5 mm obtained by stirring and cooling, in an oil based solvent, an agar aqueous solution prepared such that the breaking stress after the cooling/solidification is 0.005-0.1 MPa and an oil based gel prepared by mixing fine particles of silicone that are three-dimensionally cross-linked chemically and silicone oil and/or hydrocarbon oil. The object of the present invention is to provide a cosmetic that gives a moderate massaging sensation at the time of use.

Abstract: A negative electrode material for lithium ion secondary batteries, the negative electrode material including particles (A) containing an element capable of occluding/releasing lithium ions other than a carbon element; graphite particles (B) capable of occluding/releasing lithium ions and having a median value of not smaller than 1.4 and not larger than 3.0 in a number-based distribution of aspect ratios of primary particles and carbon fibers (C); wherein a three dimensional web structure is formed from one or more carbon fibers (C), the particles (A) are fusion-bonded to the structure, and the structure is fusion-bonded to at least a part of a surface of the graphite particle (B). Also disclosed is a lithium ion secondary battery obtained using the negative electrode material.

Abstract: Provided is a film for a transparent screen which can clearly display merchandise information, advertisement, or the like on a transparent partition or the like by projection without compromising the transmission visibility. A film for a transparent screen according to the present invention includes: a resin layer; and inorganic particles at least a portion of which is contained in an aggregated state in the resin layer, wherein primary particles of the inorganic particles have a median diameter of 0.1 to 50 nm and a maximum particle size of 10 to 500 nm, and the content of the inorganic particles is 0.015 to 1.2% by mass with respect to the resin.

Abstract: [Objects] Provided is an ionomer resin composition that, when molded into a film shape, is small in both of orientational birefringence and photoelastic birefringence and excellent in transparency, heat resistance, flexibility, and size stability. Additionally, provided are an optical film including the ionomer resin composition, a polarizing plate including the optical film, and a liquid crystal display apparatus including the same.

Abstract: There are provided an optical film having both low orientation birefringence and low photoelastic birefringence and, at the same time, having excellent transparency and heat resistance, and a polarizing plate including the optical film and a liquid crystal display device. An acrylic copolymer according to the present invention includes as constituent units 0.5 to 35% by mass of N-aromatic substituted maleimide units and 60 to 85% by mass of alkyl (meth)acrylate units having a negative intrinsic birefringence in terms of a homopolymer.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic component manufacturing method, capable of suppressing reduction in a trench opening and suppressing diffusion of a metal film embedded in a trench. An embodiment of the present invention is an electronic component manufacturing method, including the steps of: forming a first electrode constituting layer (e.g., a TiAl film) in a recess (e.g., a trench) formed in a workpiece; forming an ultrathin barrier layer (e.g., a TiAlN film) by forming a nitride layer by plasma-nitriding a surface of the first electrode constituting layer; and forming a second electrode constituting layer (e.g., an Al wiring layer) on the ultrathin barrier layer.

Abstract: To provide an optical film that can transmit one of orthogonal polarized components and scatter the other one thereof and a process for producing the optical film. An optical film includes an optically isotropic continuous phase and an optically anisotropic dispersed phase, in which the optically isotropic continuous phase has a birefringence of below 1.5×10?4; a ratio: L1/L2 of a mean Feret diameter L1 of the optically anisotropic dispersed phase in one direction D1 of in-plane directions of the optical film to a mean Feret diameter L2 of the optically anisotropic dispersed phase in a direction D2 orthogonal to the direction D1 is 2.5 or more; and the mean Feret diameter L2 is 0.5 ?m or less.

Abstract: There are provided an optical film having both low orientation birefringence and low photoelastic birefringence and, at the same time, having excellent transparency and heat resistance, and a polarizing plate including the optical film and a liquid crystal display device. An acrylic copolymer according to the present invention includes as constituent units 0.5 to 35% by mass of N-aromatic substituted maleimide units and 60 to 85% by mass of alkyl (meth)acrylate units having a negative intrinsic birefringence in terms of a homopolymer.

Abstract: The present invention can provide a methacrylic resin which has excellent transparency and color and less defects such as fish eyes and thus suitable for optical films by adding (A) a polymeric dispersant represented by formula (1) below and (B) an inorganic salt and/or organic salt selected from alkali metal salts, alkaline earth metal salts and ammonium salts when methyl methacrylate alone or a monomer mixture containing methyl methacrylate as one component is subjected to suspension-polymerization: (n=10 to 60 mol %, m=40 to 90 mol %, R1 is hydrogen or a methyl group, R2 is an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and M is an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal or NH4.

Abstract: Disclosed is a highly safe battery separator, in particular a separator for a lithium ion secondary battery, which reduces internal resistance, achieves good ionic conductivity, prevents passing of electrode active materials, and also prevents electrical short circuit by controlling deposition of lithium metal (dendrite). Also disclosed is a means for stably producing the battery separator with high productivity. Specifically disclosed are: a battery separator which is composed of a porous polyolefin sheet that is formed from a group of polyolefin nanofilaments that have an average filament diameter of less than 1 ?m and a filament size distribution of 0.2 or less; and a means for producing the battery separator.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic component manufacturing method, capable of suppressing reduction in a trench opening and suppressing diffusion of a metal film embedded in a trench. An embodiment of the present invention is an electronic component manufacturing method, including the steps of: forming a first electrode constituting layer (e.g., a TiAl film) in a recess (e.g., a trench) formed in a workpiece; forming an ultrathin barrier layer (e.g., a TiAlN film) by forming a nitride layer by plasma-nitriding a surface of the first electrode constituting layer; and forming a second electrode constituting layer (e.g., an Al wiring layer) on the ultrathin barrier layer.

Abstract: The present invention can provide a methacrylic resin which has excellent transparency and color and less defects such as fish eyes and thus suitable for optical films by adding (A) a polymeric dispersant represented by formula (1) below and (B) an inorganic salt and/or organic salt selected from alkali metal salts, alkaline earth metal salts and ammonium salts when methyl methacrylate alone or a monomer mixture containing methyl methacrylate as one component is subjected to suspension-polymerization: (n=10 to 60 mol %, m=40 to 90 mol %, R1 is hydrogen or a methyl group, R2 is an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and M is an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal or NH4.

Abstract: A phase difference film obtained by stretching a resin film formed of a resin composition containing a copolymer having a first structural unit represented by the following formula (1) and a second structural unit represented by the following formula (2), in at least a uniaxial direction, in which the content of the first structural unit in the above-described copolymer is 3 to 50 mol % on the basis of the total of the first structural unit and the second structural unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical film comprising a resin material containing a copolymer of 20 to 90% by weight of methyl methacrylate, 10 to 70% by weight of tert-butylcyclohexyl methacrylate represented by formula (I): and 0 to 20% by weight of a monomer other than methyl methacrylate and tert-butylcyclohexyl methacrylate, the optical film having been produced by drawing an undrawn film formed by melt-extruding the resin material by a factor of 1.4 to 6.0 in terms of area ratio.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical film produced by a method comprising continuously discharging a molten resin on a casting roll through a die lip of an extruder, wherein the molten resin contains a copolymer of (A) 75 to 99% by weight of an (meth)acrylate monomer that, when homopolymerized, has a negative intrinsic birefringence, and (B) 1 to 25% by weight of an (meth)acrylate monomer that, when homopolymerized, has a positive intrinsic birefringence, and a velocity ratio V2/V1 of 1.2 to 15 is satisfied wherein V1 represents a discharge velocity of the molten resin from the die lip, m/min; and V2 represents a surface velocity of the casting roll, m/min.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electronic component manufacturing method including a step of embedding a metal film. An embodiment of the present invention includes a first step of depositing a barrier layer containing titanium nitride on an object to be processed on which a concave part is formed and a second step of filling a low-melting-point metal directly on the barrier layer under a temperature condition allowing the low-melting-point metal to flow, by a PCM sputtering method while forming a magnetic field by a magnet unit including plural magnets which are arranged at grid points of a polygonal grid so as to have different polarities between the neighboring magnets.

Abstract: The object is to produce a polysaccharide and/or a monosaccharide efficiently by hydrolyzing a different polysaccharide efficiently. The hydrolysis of a polysaccharide is an important means for producing a monosaccharide that can be used as a starting material for the production of ethanol, the solubilization of a water-insoluble polysaccharide, and the production of a useful water-soluble low-polymeric saccharide or the like. For achieving the object, a polysaccharide to be hydrolyzed is reacted with water in the presence of a carbonaceous material having sulfonic acid group therein to cause the hydrolysis of the polysaccharide to be hydrolyzed, thereby producing a other polysaccharide and/or a monosaccharide.

Abstract: A tungsten cathode material to be used for TIG welding, plasma spraying, plasma cutting, electro-discharge machining, discharge lamps, and the like is improved; use of the radioactive element thorium is reduced; and a long life and a high performance are realized. In a tungsten cathode material, oxide particles containing an oxide or oxides of at least one selected from the group consisting of Sm, Nd, Gd, and La in a total amount of 50 vol % or more are dispersed, the oxide particles having an average particle diameter d satisfying the relationship 0<d?2.5 ?m. Given a volume fraction f (vol %) of the total amount of the oxide particles in the tungsten cathode material, 0.083?f/I holds when a current I(A) such that 0<I?40 A is applied to an electrode being made of the tungsten cathode material.