Abstract: A flame retardant for thermoplastic resins comprising polyorganosiloxane crosslinked particles having a toluene-insoluble matter content of at least 50% by weight and an average particle size of 0.01 to 2,000 &mgr;m, which provides flame retardant resin compositions of low environmental load generating no harmful gas at the time of burning and having an excellent impact resistance by the incorporation thereof into thermoplastic resins.

Abstract: A silicone rubber particle-containing aqueous emulsion which comprises polymer particles comprising (A) 0.1 to 45% by weight of a vinyl homopolymer or copolymer and (B) 55 to 99.9% by weight of a silicone rubber, wherein the polymer particles have a number average particle size of 0.008 to 0.1 &mgr;m and a variation coefficient in particle size distribution of at most 65%, and the emulsion contains at most 10 parts by weight of an emulsifier per 100 parts by weight of the silicone rubber (B); and a silicone rubber-based graft copolymer particle-containing aqueous emulsion obtained by graft-polymerizing a vinyl monomer in the presence of the polymer particles.

Abstract: There is provided graft copolymer particles prepared by graft-polymerizing a vinyl monomer to a coagglomerated rubber, wherein said rubber is prepared by coagglomerating rubber particles of mixed latexes obtained by mixing (A) a silicone rubber latex with (B) an acrylic rubber latex and/or a conjugated diene rubber latex in such an amount as a silicone content is from 1 to 90% by weight based on the total rubber component. A physical property of a thermoplastic resin is improved using the graft copolymer particles. The thermoplastic resin composition using the graft copolymer particles is excellent in impact resistance, weather resistance, processability, thermal discoloration resistance and appearance of molded products.

Abstract: The present invention provides a powder coating having an excellent curability which can be baked without evaporation of a blocking agent as compared with the conventional powder coating to provide a coat having an excellent yellowing resistance an improved smoothness and weather resistance. A novel powder coating containing, as a main component, a polyester resin composition is provided, comprising (A) an alkenyl group-containing polyester resin with a number-average molecular weight of from 500 to 100,000 having at least 1.2 alkenyl groups on the average per molecule, (B) a Si--H group-containing curing agent having at least two Si--H groups per molecule, and (C) a catalyst active in hydrosilylation.

Abstract: A foaming resin composition consisting essentially of (A) an organic compound having a carbon-carbon double bond, (B) a compound having an SiH group, and (C) a compound having an OH group is foamed and cured at room temperature or under heat at relatively low temperatures, to obtain hard, semi-hard or soft plastic foam having good weather resistance and good compatibility with coating compositions and adhesives.

Abstract: A process for preparing optically active indoline-2-carboxylic acid by an optical resolution, which comprises subjecting a racemic ester of (R,S)-indoline-2-carboxylic acid having the general formula [(R,S)-I] to the action of an enzyme or a microorganism having a stereo-selective esterase activity, which is capable of asymmetrically hydrolyzing the racemic ester [(R,S)-I] to give optically active indoline-2-carboxylic acid having the formula [II*] so as to produce the hydrolysis product, i.e. optically active indoline-2-carboxylic acid [II*] and an unreacted optically active ester of indoline-2-carboxylic acid having the general formula [I*], isolating each optically active form, and further, if necessary, hydrolyzing the obtained optically active ester [I*] to give an optical antipode of the acid [II*].According to the process of the present invention, optically active indoline-2-carboxylic acid with a high optical purity can be prepared in a simple process with a good yield.

Abstract: A birefringent plate comprising a transparent substrate and an obliquely evaporated film formed on the transparent substrate, is free from the visual angle dependence because the obliquely evaporated film is formed into a multilayer composition and the neighboring layers have a different evaporation direction. Moreover, a manufacturing method for the birefringent plate, using a device constituted of a vacuum chamber and a crucible having a large number of inclined through holes, is capable of making the film thickness of the obliquely evaporated film uniform.

Abstract: A process for preparing optically active glycerol derivatives by a biochemical resolution which comprises (i) subjecting an ester having the general formula [(R,S)-I]: ##STR1## wherein X is a halogen atom, R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon group of C.sub.1 to C.sub.8 and R' is an aromatic hydrocarbon group or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group of C.sub.1 to C.sub.2, to the action of enzymes derived from either microorganisms or animal organs, wherein said enzymes have a stereo selective esterase activity to asymmetrically hydrolyze the ester having the general formula [(R,S)-I] to give a mixture of an optically active alcohol having the general formula (II)*: ##STR2## wherein X and R' are as above and an optically active ester having the general formula (I)*: ##STR3## wherein X, R and R' are as above, and (ii) obtaining the optically active alcohol having the general formula (II)* and the optically active ester having the general formula (I)* by separating operations.

Abstract: A process for preparing 3-halogeno-2-hydroxy-propyltrimethylammonium halide or especially one having the (S)-configuration, which comprises reacting 2,3-dihydroxypropyltrimethylammonium halide or one having the (S)-configuration, which is obtained by reacting (R)-3-halogeno-1,2-propanediol with trimethylamine, with a halogenating reagent.According to the present invention, 3-halogeno-2-hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium halide or one having the (S)-configuration, which is a useful intermediate for the synthesis of carnitine or especially (l)-carnitine, can be obtained economically, efficiently and easily.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device having a higher durability and a display quality less likely to be degraded, for example, for use in a glare shield reflection mirror. The liquid crystal device comprises: a pair of substrate plates, a liquid crystal layer filled between the pair of substrate plates, and an oblique evaporation film laminated on one of the substrate plates, wherein a protective layer is formed on the boundary surface between the oblique evaporation film and a neighboring component member. The oblique evaporation film has become less susceptible to the neighboring material, and problems, such a bluish oblique evaporation film due to the proton (H.sup.+) intrusion from the neighboring material, have been prevented. Thus the liquid crystal device has come to have a higher durability and a display quality less likely to be degraded.

Abstract: A method for producing optically active glycol derivatives by biochemical resolution which comprises contacting a racemic ester of the general formula 1 ##STR1## (wherein R.sub.1 is an aliphatic hydrocarbon group of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, R.sub.2 is an aliphatic hydrocarbon group of 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and R.sub.3 is an aromatic hydrocarbon group such as phenyl, tolyl or naphtyl) with a microorganism- or animal organ-derived enzyme having stereoselective hydrolytic activity to asymmetrically hydrolyze said racemic ester of general formula 1 to produce an optically active alcohol of general formula 2* ##STR2## (wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.3 have the same meanings as defined above) and an unreacted ester of the general formula 1* ##STR3## (wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.

Abstract: A process for preparing the optically active oxazolidinone derivative [(S)-I] by utilizing microorganisms or enzymes having a stereoselective esterase activity capable of asymmetrically hydrolyzing the racemates of the acyloxyoxazolidinone derivative [(R,S)-II], by separating the unreacted compound [(S)-II] from the hydrolyzed compound [(R)-I] and by hydrolyzing the compound [(S)-II]. The compounds are useful as intermediates for preparing optically active .beta.-adrenergic blocking agents.

Abstract: A process is disclosed in which an optically active monoalkyl ester of .beta.-(S)-aminoglutaric acid is prepared by subjecting a dialkyl ester of .beta.-protected aminoglutaric acid to the action of a culture broth, cells, or treated cells of a microorganism capable of stereoselectively hydrolyzing only one of the ester groups in the above-mentioned dialkyl ester to produce an optically active monoalkyl ester of .beta.-protected (S)-aminoglutaric acid, and then removing the amino-protecting group from the product. An optically active monoalkyl ester of .beta.-(S)-aminoglutaric acid is useful as a starting material for synthesizing .beta.-lactam antibiotics of carbapenem type such as thienamycin.

Abstract: A process is disclosed wherein D(-)-.beta.-hydroxyisobutyric acid is produced fermentatively from isobutyric acid or methacrylic acid by the stereoselective action of microorganisms having the ability to convert isobutyric acid or methacrylic acid into D(-)-.beta.-hydroxyisobutyric acid in an aqueous medium, and D(-)-.beta.-hydroxyisobutyric acid is recovered from the aqueous medium.