Abstract: To provide a means of further improving the cell's start-up capability (below-freezing-point-start-up capability) in a low temperature environment in the gas diffusion layer used in the fuel cell. It is a gas diffusion layer for fuel cell having a pore volume of micropores of 2.0×10?4 cm3/cm2 or higher.

Abstract: A fluorinated elastic tube includes: an elastic hollow body made of a fluorinated polymer; and an amorphous perfluororesin membrane having a thickness of not greater than 1 ?m and being in direct close contact with the inner surface of the hollow body. The amorphous perfluororesin membrane may have a repeating unit of, for example, formula (1), (2a), or (2b). The fluorinated elastic tube can have further improved durability while ensuring solvent resistance. wherein R1, R2, and R3 are each independently a fluorine atom or a perfluoroalkyl group; p+q+r is an integer of from 1 to 6; p is an integer of from 0 to 5; q is an integer of from 0 to 4; and r is 0 or 1.

Abstract: Humidity adjusting films are sandwiched between the catalyst electrode layers and carbon fiber collector layers of a solid polymer type fuel cell. These humidity adjusting films are constructed from a conductive carbonaceous powder and a polytetrafluoroethylene. The moisture permeability as measured by the method stipulated in JIS L 1099 (B-1) is 1200 to 4000 g/m2 hr, and the mean thickness of the films is 5 to 100 ?m.

Abstract: A waterproof, moisture permeable composite film from 7 to 300 &mgr;m in thickness and comprising a porous hydrophobic film having a coating layer of a hydrophilic resin produced on one face thereof; wherein said hydrophilic resin coating layer is a thin film having depth such that when an electron microscopic image of the surface of said hydrophilic resin coating layer taken at 10,000× magnification with an electron microscope is viewed with the naked eye, the contours of said porous hydrophobic film matrix are visible through said hydrophilic resin coating layer over at least a portion of said hydrophilic resin coating layer; and wherein pores present on the surface of said porous film on the side thereof having the coating layer are infiltrated by hydrophilic resin continuous with said coating layer, while the surface of said porous film on the side thereof devoid of coating layer is not infiltrated by said hydrophilic resin and retains a porous structure, such that the composite film has water vapor

Abstract: A flexible, non-porous tube characterized by the fact that the void spaces present in the luminal surface of a substrate tube of porous polytetrafluoroethylene are filled with a silicone or fluorosilicone rubber, that a continuous coating of said silicone or fluorosilicone rubber is not present on the inner surface of said tube, and that the inner surface of said tube incorporates surfaces of both the polytetrafluoroethylene and the silicone or fluorosilicone rubber. The tube has excellent lubricity, resistance to contamination, resistance to chemicals, and has exceptional tube flexing properties. The flexible tube may be employed, for example, as a tube for removal of gas destructively tested by a gas sensor, as a tube for transporting various liquids, and particularly as a tube in medical applications, such as a forceps channel tube, an endoscope channel tube, a bodily fluid transport tube, catheter tube, or the like. A method of making the tube is also described.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring concentrate of solute in an aqueous solution in which a humidity sensor is enclosed and sealed within a porous fluorine polymer film that is liquid water impermeable but water vapor permeable. The sensor operates by measuring water vapor pressure in the gaseous phase inside the sealed film after the inside and outside have equilibrated with respect to water outside and inside.

Abstract: A laminated composite material containing sorbent particles which are protected from contact by liquids. The materials can be used in devices to sorb gases and vapors and are suitable for use in chemical protective clothing.

Abstract: A water vapor permeable membrane, selectively impermeable to acid vapors, being constructed from a thin film layer of sulfoanted polyacrylonitrile containing a cationic dye on a supporting porous polyterafluoroethylene membrane.

Abstract: A composite sheet material is provided comprising a porous, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene base sheet impregnated with a first resin that has a lower heat-shrinkability than the base sheet, the impregnated base sheet having a covering layer which has a thickness of at least three (3) micrometers and which comprises a second resin whose hardening rate is lower than that of the impregnating resin. The present invention is useful in printed circuit boards wherein prepregs according to the invention are laminated with a metal sheet, a resin sheet, or another printed circuit board.

Abstract: A water-vapor-permeable, waterproof, highly elastic film of expanded, porous, unsintered polytetrafluoroethylene having impregnated within the pores of the porous film, on both sides thereof, a water-vapor-permeable resin, for example, an elastomer containing urethane bonds and a hydrophilic group(s) in its molecular structure. The film of this invention is useful in clothing, tents, and various applications where water vapor transmission characteristics and waterproofness are simultaneously desired. The film has elongation percentage in at least one direction exceeding 40% and durability in repeated stretching to 80% of its elongation percentage of more than 200,000 cycles.

Abstract: A water-vapor-pervious, optionally waterproof, heat insulating material is provided wherein a discontinuous layer of thin, reflective aluminum particles or flakes are adhered to a surface of a heat insulating material which is water-vapor-pervious and which may be waterproof, the adhesive being a resinous material which is pervious to water vapor.

Abstract: A self-cooling water container is provided capable of keeping the temperature of the contained water lower than the ambient temperature by utilizing the heat of water vaporization. The disclosed water container is comprised of a water repellant, continuously porous resin material or a gas permeable laminate including the porous material as a major ply element.

Abstract: A colored, porous fluorocarbon material is provided wherein a porous layer of a colored dyeing-site resin is formed on all surfaces of the fluorocarbon material. This new material is made by a process whereby an auxiliary solvent which does not readily dissolve a dyeing-site resin, if at all, is added to a solution of the dyeing-site resin in a main solvent, and this is coated onto the surfaces of the fluorocarbon material and dried. The material may be dyed by adding dyestuff to the aforesaid solution or it may be dyed after coating and drying. The coated fluorocarbon material can be stretched.