Abstract: Provided is a polymer electrolyte membrane that is formed of a fluorine free material, is soft and hardly cracks, and is excellent in hot water resistance. The polymer electrolyte membrane is obtained by crosslinking a block copolymer (Z) containing a polymer block (A) containing a structural unit derived from an aromatic vinyl compound and having an ion-conducting group; and an amorphous polymer block (B) containing a structural unit derived from an unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon and free of any ion-conducting group, the block copolymer (Z) being crosslinked with a crosslinking agent (X) having, in a molecule thereof, two or more aromatic rings of which one or more hydrogen atoms are substituted with hydroxy groups.

Abstract: An electrolyte membrane having a structure wherein fine rubber particles having substantially no ion-conducting group and having an average particle size of 20 nm to 1 ?m are uniformly dispersed in a matrix including a resin component having ion-conducting group. The electrolyte membrane has high bonding ability to electrodes and does not cause cracks and ruptures because it is kept flexible even under low humid or absolutely dried condition, in addition, shows high ion conductivity even under low humid or absolutely dried condition because the matrix having ion-conducting groups are continuous.

Abstract: Laminates including a nanofiber layer and a base layer, the nanofiber layer comprising polyamide filaments formed from a polyamide (a) and having an average fiber diameter of 10 to 1000 nm, and the base layer comprising fibers at least including polyamide fibers formed from a polyamide (a), where the polyamide (a) comprises a dicarboxylic acid unit and a diamine unit and where (i) the dicarboxylic acid unit comprising a terephthalic acid unit in the proportion of not lower than 60% by mole, and (ii) the diamine unit comprising at least one diamine unit selected from the group consisting of 1,9-nonanediamine unit and 2-methyl-1,8-octanediamine unit in the proportion of not lower than 60% by mole in total are provided, as well as separators for capacitors including the laminates.

Abstract: A dielectric material for a polymeric actuator having a moveable part of the polymeric actuator driven by an electric field, the dielectric material containing a block copolymer (A) having a microphase-separated structure including a polymer block (B1) and a polymer block (B2), both of which are immiscible with each other. A main compositional unit in both of the polymer block (B1) and the polymer block (B2) is a (meth)acrylic ester unit, the polymer block (B1) having an alpha-dispersion temperature of 70° C. or more, and the polymer block (B2) having an alpha-dispersion temperature of 25° C. or less. The polymeric actuator provides the dielectric material between electrodes.

Abstract: Methods and devices for forming a vertically-oriented multilayer laminates, for example, a vertically-oriented multilayer laminates, are provided. The laminates may be fabricated by hardenable fluids, for example, polymers that are directed along flow paths to divide, repossession, and combine streams to provide the desired laminated structure. The flow divisions and recombination may be practiced repeatedly wherein laminates have tens or even tens of thousands of individual layers may be produced. The polymers used may have comparable viscosities, for example, having viscosity ratios of less than 3. Though aspects of the invention may be used packaging, aspects of the invention may be applied to any field where laminated structures are desired.

Abstract: An electrolyte membrane having a structure wherein fine rubber particles having substantially no ion-conducting group and having an average particle size of 20 nm to 1 ?m are uniformly dispersed in a matrix including a resin component having ion-conducting group. The electrolyte membrane has high bonding ability to electrodes and does not cause cracks and ruptures because it is kept flexible even under low humid or absolutely dried condition, in addition, shows high ion conductivity even under low humid or absolutely dried condition because the matrix having ion-conducting groups are continuous.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a dielectric material for polymeric actuator, which has a high dielectric constant, low Young's modulus and excellent operation performance, which can be simply formed, and which has high production efficiency. It is also intended to provide a polymeric actuator which comprises the dielectric material and has excellent operation performance. The dielectric material for a polymeric actuator comprised of a moveable part of the polymeric actuator driven by an electric field comprising; a block copolymer (A) having a microphase-separated structure including a polymer block (B1) and a polymer block (B2) both of which are immiscible with each other, wherein a main compositional unit in both of the polymer block (B1) and the polymer block (B2) is a (meth)acrylic ester unit, the polymer block (B1) has an alpha-dispersion temperature of 70° C. or more, and the polymer block (B2) has an alpha-dispersion temperature of 25° C. or less.

Abstract: Provided are a laminate excellent in heat resistance, and a separator for capacitors comprising the laminate. The laminate comprises a nanofiber layer and a base layer, the nanofiber layer comprising polyamide filaments formed from a polyamide (a) and having an average fiber diameter of 10 to 1000 nm, and the base layer comprising fibers at least including polyamide fibers formed from a polyamide (a). The polyamide (a) comprises a dicarboxylic acid unit and a diamine unit, wherein (i) the dicarboxylic acid unit comprising terephthalic acid unit in the proportion of not lower than 60% by mole, and (ii) the diamine unit comprising at least one diamine unit selected from the group consisting of 1,9-nonanediamine unit and 2-methyl-1,8-octanediamine unit in the proportion of not lower than 60% by mole in total.

Abstract: A fiber or filament comprising a polyester copolymerized with 2 to 20 mole % of a compound having a specific structure, which has one or two ester-forming functional groups. The polyester fiber or filament has a low birefringence and excellent dyeability and deep color development. The polyester fiber or filament is provided, when drawn under selected conditions, with not only high shrinkage ratio but also high shrinking stress, and has excellent lightfastness, thereby being useful while replacing conventional highly shrinkable fibers.