Abstract: A film deposition apparatus reduces hillock formation while yielding uniform film thickness distribution. A film deposition apparatus of a present embodiment includes: a chamber; a rotary table that circulates and carries a workpiece W along a circumferential transfer path L; multiple targets that contain a film deposition material, and that are provided in positions at different radial distances from a center of rotation of the rotary table; a shield member that forms a film deposition chamber surrounding a region where the film deposition material scatters, and that has an opening on the side facing the circulated and carried workpiece; and a plasma generator that includes a sputter gas introduction unit for introducing a sputter gas into the film deposition chamber, and a power supply unit for applying power to the target, and that generates plasma in the sputter gas G1 in the film deposition chamber.

Abstract: A method of forming pre-foamed beads of a polyethylene-base resin are disclosed. The polyethylene-base resin has been obtained by crosslinking a starting polyethylene-base resin having a density greater than 0.940 g/cm.sup.3 and the pre-foamed beads have a crosslinking degree of 10-45% gel content. The pre-foamed beads can provide a molded articles having excellent rigidity and dimensional accuracy and showing superb dimensional stability under heat.

Abstract: Prefoamed particles consisting essentially of an ethylene/propylene random copolymer, wherein said prefoamed particles are obtained by foaming particles of an ethylene/propylene random copolymer containing 1 to 4% by weight of random-copolymerized ethylene at a temperature in the range of from Tm - 15.degree. C. to Tm - 5.degree. C. (in which Tm is a temperature at which to terminate melting of the copolymer) and within the range of 141.degree. to 151.degree. C., and wherein said prefoamed particles have a crystal structure characterized in that in a DSC curve obtained by heating 1 to 3 mg of the copolymer prefoamed particles to 220.degree. C. at a heating rate of 10.degree. C./min. with a differential scanning calorimeter, there appear a peak (characteristic peak) characteristic of the copolymer and another peak (high temperature peak) at a higher temperature than a temperature at which the characteristic peak appears.

Abstract: A multi-conductor cable such as an electrical power cable, a signal-transmission cable or optical fiber cable, including a core made of a plurality of insulated conductors, a sheath surrounding the core, and a plurality of foamed plastic string fillers which fill the void space between the core and the sheath and between the insulated conductors.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the production of expanded particles of polymeric material wherein unexpanded particles of the material are contacted with a nitrogen-containing inorganic gas under a first pressure condition to impregnate the particles with the gas. The gas impregnated particles are heated to a temperature higher than the softening point of the material, and dispersed into a liquid medium. The resulting dispersion is subjected to a lower pressure to expand the particles. The expanded particles may be used as prefoamed particles for the molding of foamed articles.

Abstract: Pre-foamed particles are formed of a polyethylene resin obtained by crosslinking a linear super-low density polyethylene having a density of 0.880-0.914 g/cm.sup.3 and a melt flow rate of 0.01-10 g/10 minutes. The gel content of the pre-foamed particles is 0.06-45%.

Abstract: For use in an automobile bumper, a core material composed of a molded article of prefoamed polyolefin resin particles. The core material has a density of 0.05 to 0.15 g/cm.sup.3 and the relation represented by the following expressionE.sub.20 /.rho..gtoreq.20 kg-cm/gwherein E.sub.20 is the amount of energy absorption (kg-cm/cm.sup.3) when the core material is compressed to 50% at 20.degree. C., and .rho. is the density (g/cm.sup.3) of the core material.

Abstract: A process for producing particles having an increased particle diameter from a powder of a polyolefin resin, which comprises heating the polyolefin resin powder at a temperature higher than the melting point of the resin in a dispersion medium in the presence of a dispersing agent and a surface-active agent.

Abstract: A process for producing pre-foamed particles of a polypropylene resin which comprises expanding original pre-foamed particles of a polypropylene resin, said original pre-foamed particles having the following relation2<E.sup.1/3 .times.n.sup.1/2 <45wherein E is the expansion ratio of the original pre-foamed particles, and n is the number of cells per mm.sup.2 of the cross section of the original pre-foamed particles,by (1) imparting expanding ability to the original pre-foamed particles and then heating them with a heated gas to the heat distortion temperature of the base resin of the pre-foamed particles or a higher temperature or (2) heating the original pre-foamed particles with steam to the heat distortion temperature of the base resin of the particles or a higher temperature with or without imparting expanding ability thereto, whereby pre-foamed particles having an expansion ratio higher than the original expansion ratio E are obtained.

Abstract: This invention provides an electrical conductive foam bead comprising a foamed bead core of a thermoplastic synthetic resin at least partially covered on the surface thereof with an electrical conductive layer, and a molded electrical conductive foamed article comprising a plurality of particulate bodies formed by mutually fusing such electrical conductive foam beads, the electrical conductive layers extending over all or a portion of the interface of the mutually fused particulate bodies. The conductive foam beads and molded conductive foamed articles both have improved antistatic effect and are used as packaging and cushioning materials, electromagnetic radiation shields, and the like.

Abstract: Prefoamed polymer particles having excellent moldability are produced by a process comprising a step (impregnating step) of impregnating carbon dioxide or carbon dioxide and a volatile blowing agent in polymer particles, a step (dispersing step) of dispersing the polymer particles into a dispersion medium in a sealed vessel, a step (heating step) of heating the polymer particles to a temperature higher than the softening point of said polymer particles, and a step (releasing step) of opening one end of said vessel and simultaneously releasing the polymer particles and dispersion medium from inside the vessel to an atmosphere held at a pressure lower than that of the vessel. In this process, the impregnating step, dispersing step and heating step need not be altogether effected separately. These steps can be performed simultaneously in one and the same vessel.

Abstract: Biaxially oriented thermoplastic films, for example polyethylene terephthalate films, are further stretched in one direction in a stretching zone having a distance in the direction of stretching which is greater than the breadth of said film. As a result, stretched films having a uniform thickness in the breadthwise direction are obtained in a high yield rate.

Abstract: Biaxially oriented thermoplastic films, for example polypropylene films, are further stretched in one direction in a stretching zone having a distance in the direction of stretching which is greater than the breadth of said film. As a result, stretched films having a uniform thickness in the breadthwise direction are obtained in a high yield rate.

Abstract: For use in an automobile bumper, a core material composed of a molded article of prefoamed polyolefin resin particles. The core material has a density of 0.05 to 0.15 g/cm.sup.3 and the relation represented by the following expressionE.sub.20/.rho. .gtoreq.20 kg-cm/gwherein E.sub.20 is the amount of energy absorption (kg-cm/cm.sup.3) when the core material is compressed to 50% at 20.degree. C., and .rho. is the density (g/cm.sup.3) of the core material.