Abstract: A powder transfer mechanism laminates powder layers containing water-soluble powder as a main component one by one at a modeling portion. An inkjet line head injects a water-based ink that dissolves the powder in an area of an uppermost layer of the powder layers laminated by the powder transfer mechanism, the area corresponding to a cross-sectional shape of a modeled object. Then, a heater heats the powder for each layer of the powder layers. Further, the heater heats the powder after the water-based ink is injected by the inkjet line head or before the water-based ink is injected by the inkjet line head. The present invention can be applied to a modeling apparatus, for example.

Abstract: [Object] To form a modeled object with high accuracy. [Solving Means] A powder transfer mechanism (16) laminates powder layers containing water-soluble powder as a main component one by one at a modeling portion (14). An inkjet line head (17) injects a water-based ink that dissolves the powder in an area of an uppermost layer of the powder layers laminated by the powder transfer mechanism (16), the area corresponding to a cross-sectional shape of a modeled object. Then, a heater (18) heats the powder for each layer of the powder layers. Further, the heater (18) heats the powder after the water-based ink is injected by the inkjet line head (17) or before the water-based ink is injected by the inkjet line head (17). The present invention can be applied to a modeling apparatus, for example.

Abstract: This invention aims to provide titanate whiskers which are excellent in heat resistance, chemical resistance and reinforcing effect and are low in coefficient of thermal conductivity.The titanate whiskers of the invention are those represented by the formulaA.sup.I.sub.v A.sup.II.sub.w M.sup.II.sub.x M.sup.III.sub.y Ti.sub.8-z O.sub.16wherein A.sup.I is at least one member selected from alkali metals, A.sup.II is Ba, M.sup.II is at least one member selected from the group consisting of Mg, Co, Ni, Zn, Cu and Mn, M.sup.III is at least one member selected from the group consisting of Al, Sc, Cr, Fe and Ga, and v, w, x, y and z are real numbers which fulfill 0.5.ltoreq.2x+y.ltoreq.2.5, 2x+y=v+2w, and z=x+y.

Abstract: This invention aims to provide titanate whiskers which are excellent in heat resistance, chemical resistance and reinforcing effect and are low in coefficient of thermal conductivity.The titanate whiskers of the invention are those represented by the formulaA.sup.I.sub.v A.sup.II.sub.w M.sup.II.sub.x M.sup.III.sub.y Ti.sub.8-z O.sub.16wherein A.sup.I is at least one member selected from alkali metals, A.sup.II is Ba, M.sup.II is at least one member selected from the group consisting of Mg, Co, Ni, Zn, Cu and Mn, M.sup.III is at least one member selected from the group consisting of Al, Sc, Cr, Fe and Ga, and v, w, x, y and z are real numbers which fulfill 0.5.ltoreq.2x+y.ltoreq.2.5, 2x+y=v+2w, and z=x+y.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ammonium ion- and ammonia-selective adsorbent.According to the invention, an ammonium ion-selective adsorbent can be obtained by introducing alkali metal ions capable of ion exchange into a silica-alumina composite oxide having a specific composition, the obtained adsorbent being capable of selectively adsorbing ammonium ions and ammoniacal nitrogen without affecting other components in seawater as well as fresh water, and being capable of keeping the pH value of seawater varied within an extremely narrow range.The adsorbent of the invention is also useful as an adsorbent for adsorption of ammonia gas.