Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a Mn-based alloy exhibiting metamagnetism over a wide temperature range. A Mn-based alloy according to the present invention is a MnAl alloy having metamagnetism. The metamagnetism refers to a property in which magnetism undergoes transition from paramagnetism or antiferromagnetism to ferromagnetism by a magnetic field. In the MnAl alloy, an antiferromagnetic state is adequately stable, so that by imparting AFM-FM transition type metamagnetism (the type of metamagnetism undergoing transition from antiferromagnetism to ferromagnetism), it is possible to obtain metamagnetism over a wide temperature range, particularly, over a temperature range of ?100° C. to 200° C.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a Mn-based alloy exhibiting metamagnetism over a wide temperature range. A Mn-based alloy according to the present invention is a MnAl alloy having metamagnetism. The metamagnetism refers to a property in which magnetism undergoes transition from paramagnetism or antiferromagnetism to ferromagnetism by a magnetic field. In the MnAl alloy, an antiferromagnetic state is adequately stable, so that by imparting AFM-FM transition type metamagnetism (the type of metamagnetism undergoing transition from antiferromagnetism to ferromagnetism), it is possible to obtain metamagnetism over a wide temperature range, particularly, over a temperature range of ?100° C. to 200° C.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to reduce a variation in the component of a MnAl alloy deposited by a molten salt electrolysis method to thereby obtain high magnetic characteristics. In a MnAl alloy manufacturing method that electrolyzes molten salt containing a Mn compound and an Al compound to deposit a MnAl alloy, the MnAl alloy is additionally charged into the molten salt during electrolysis. According to the present invention, the concentration of the Mn compound is maintained by additional charging of the Mn compound, so that it is possible to reduce a variation in the composition of the MnAl alloy to be deposited to thereby maintain stable production conditions.

Abstract: An extrusion molding apparatus comprises a shaping die for producing a ceramic molded product, and a screw extruder having built therein an extruding screw (40) for mixing while leading a ceramic material forward. The extruding screw (40) includes a pressing screw portion (410) having a first lead (411) and a dispersing screw portion (420) having a second lead (421) adjacent to a forward end (412) of the pressing screw portion (410). The second lead (421) is formed in such a manner that the rear ends of all the second lead surfaces (426) at the rear end (422) of the dispersing screw portion (420) and the forward end of the first lead surface (416) at the forward end (412) of the pressing screw portion (410) are displaced from each other.

Abstract: The extruding apparatus has the molding die to form the ceramic molding, the screw extruder containing the extrusion screw to knead and guide the ceramic material toward the molding die. The extrusion screw is comprised of the pressure screw part and the diffusion screw part. The diffusion screw part provided at the front end of the extrusion screw has a diameter greater than the screw diameter of the pressure screw part.

Abstract: An extrusion molding apparatus and an extrusion molding method is provided that permits deformation of molded body to be prevented and a sound extrusion molded body to be obtained even in the case where a soft extrusion molded body having low rigidity in a direction perpendicular to extrusion direction is molded. An extrusion molding apparatus 1 comprises a screw extruder 12 that kneads a molding raw material 80 and extrudes an extrusion molded body 8 from a molding die 11, and a conveying apparatus 3 that supports said extrusion molded body 8 extruded continuously from the screw extruder 12 and conveys same in the extrusion direction. The screw extruder 12 has an inclination angle ? between the extrusion axis A and horizontal axis H in the range of 15° to 85°. The conveying apparatus 3 is constructed so as to move a reception stage 32 that supports said extrusion molded body 8 extruded along said extrusion axis A on the outer circumferential surface thereof, generally in parallel to said extrusion axis A.

Abstract: Method of fabricating at least a honeycomb body include drying a plurality of honeycomb bodies, each having a multiplicity of cells arranged in the shape of a honeycomb and having a wall thickness of 0.125 mm or less, without cracking or wrinkling in the outer peripheral skin portion of the mold. Extrusion-molded argillaceous honeycomb bodies may be dried by placement on porous ceramics trays, having a dielectric loss of 0.1 or less, a porosity of 10% or more and a sectional open area ratio of 50% or more, exposure to at least 70% humidity and simultaneous irradiation with microwaves of 1,000 to 10,000 MHz. Alternatively, extrusion-molded argillaceous honeycomb bodies may be dried by exposure to at least 70% humidity and simultaneous irradiation with microwaves of 1,000 to 10,000 MHz, after which hot air is passed through the cells of the honeycomb bodies.

Abstract: An extrusion molding apparatus capable of improving the extrusion rate of the ceramic material without a major reconstruction of a drive system is disclosed. The extrusion molding apparatus comprises screw extruders (2, 3) including housings (29, 39) having screws (4, 5) built therein, wherein the ceramic material introduced into the housings (29, 39), respectively, is extruded by way of the forward end extrusion ports by rotating the screws (4, 5). The screws (4, 5) built in the screw extruders (2, 3), respectively, include pressure portions (41, 51) with the feed rate per revolution progressively decreased toward the forward end extrusion port, and extended portions (43, 53) with the feed rate per revolution progressively increased toward the forward end extrusion port.

Abstract: An extrusion molding apparatus for a ceramic molded product which is capable of passing a ceramic material smoothly through a filter unit is disclosed. The extrusion molding apparatus comprises a mold (11) for molding a ceramic molded product, a screw extruder (4) for supplying a ceramic material (80) to the mold (11), and a filter unit (3) for filtering the ceramic material (80) at the extrusion outlet (41) of the screw extruder (4). The screw extruder (4) has built therein a screw (40) for kneading while at the same time leading the ceramic material (80) forward, and further has, on the front part thereof, a spatula portion (5) adapted to move over the inlet surface (30) of the filter unit (3) and there is a predetermined distance D between the spatula portion and the inlet surface (30).

Abstract: An extrusion molding apparatus comprises a shaping die for producing a ceramic molded product, and a screw extruder having built therein an extruding screw (40) for mixing while leading a ceramic material forward. The extruding screw (40) includes a pressing screw portion (410) having a first lead (411) and a dispersing screw portion (420) having a second lead (421) adjacent to a forward end (412) of the pressing screw portion (410). The second lead (421) is formed in such a manner that the rear ends of all the second lead surfaces (426) at the rear end (422) of the dispersing screw portion (420) and the forward end of the first lead surface (416) at the forward end (412) of the pressing screw portion (410) are displaced from each other.

Abstract: The extruding apparatus has the molding die to form the ceramic molding, the screw extruder containing the extrusion screw to knead and guide the ceramic material toward the molding die. The extrusion screw is comprised of the pressure screw part and the diffusion screw part. The diffusion screw part provided at the front end of the extrusion screw has a diameter greater than the screw diameter of the pressure screw part.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for manufacturing a ceramic honeycomb molding having many cells formed by arranging cell walls in a honeycomb pattern. Deformation, wrinkles, cracks, etc., of the cell walls and the like are prevented from occurring. The method for manufacturing the ceramic honeycomb molding having many cells formed by arranging cells walls in a honeycomb pattern comprises an extruding process in which clayey honeycomb moldings 1 are extruded, a drying process in which the honeycomb moldings 1 are dried, and a storage process, between the extruding process and the drying process, in which the honeycomb moldings 1 are maintained in a high humidity atmosphere.

Abstract: The invention provides microwave continuous heating equipment that does not need redesigning even when workpiece size or length is changed, and that can perform efficient heat treatment by continuously radiating microwave power while preventing leakage of the microwave power. The microwave continuous heating equipment comprises a heating chamber 11, microwave absorbing chambers 13 and 14 connected to the front and rear ends, respectively, of the heating chamber, and transport equipment 15 for transporting workpieces thereon through the front-end microwave absorbing chamber 13, the heating chamber 11, and the rear-end microwave absorbing chamber 14 in the order state. Each of the microwave absorbing chambers 13 and 14 includes a workpiece transport path 13a, 14a having a meandering shape to prevent the microwave power from passing straight through an opening 13b, 14b at one end and an opening 13c, 14c, at the other end.

Abstract: A method of fabricating at least a honeycomb body and a drying system are disclosed. A honeycomb mold having a cell wall thickness of not larger than 0.125 mm can be dried without developing any cracking or wrinkles in the outer peripheral skin portion. In a method of fabricating a honeycomb mold (1) of ceramics having a multiplicity of cells (10) defined by the cell walls (11) having a thickness of not more than 0.125 mm arranged in the shape of honeycomb, each extrusion-molded argillaceous honeycomb body (1) is dried by being exposed to a high-humidity ambience of 70% or more while at the same time being irradiated with microwaves in the frequency range of 1,000 to 10,000 MHz.

Abstract: A method of fabricating at least a honeycomb body and a drying system are disclosed, in which a plurality of honeycomb bodies each having a multiplicity of cells arranged in the shape of a honeycomb and having a wall thickness of 0.125 mm or less can be dried without developing any cracking, wrinkling, etc. in the outer peripheral skin portion of the mold. A plurality of extrusion-molded argillaceous honeycomb bodies are dried in such a manner that each honeycomb body is placed on a corresponding conveyance tray of porous ceramics having a dielectric loss of 0.1 or less, a porosity of 10% or more and a sectional open area ratio of 50% or more is exposed to a high-humidity ambience of 70% or higher in humidity while at the same time being irradiated with. microwaves of 1,000 to 10,000 MHz.

Abstract: An extrusion molding apparatus for a ceramic molded product which is capable of passing a ceramic material smoothly through a filter unit is disclosed. The extrusion molding apparatus comprises a mold (11) for molding a ceramic molded product, a screw extruder (4) for supplying a ceramic material (80) to the mold (11), and a filter unit (3) for filtering the ceramic material (80) at the extrusion outlet (41) of the screw extruder (4). The screw extruder (4) has built therein a screw (40) for kneading while at the same time leading the ceramic material (80) forward, and further has, on the front part thereof, a spatula portion (5) adapted to move over the inlet surface (30) of the filter unit (3) and there is a predetermined distance D between the spatula portion and the inlet surface (30).

Abstract: An extrusion molding apparatus capable of improving the extrusion rate of the ceramic material without a major reconstruction of a drive system is disclosed. The extrusion molding apparatus comprises screw extruders (2, 3) including housings (29, 39) having screws (4, 5) built therein, wherein the ceramic material introduced into the housings (29, 39), respectively, is extruded by way of the forward end extrusion ports by rotating the screws (4, 5). The screws (4, 5) built in the screw extruders (2, 3), respectively, include pressure portions (41, 51) with the feed rate per revolution progressively decreased toward the forward end extrusion port, and extended portions (43, 53) with the feed rate per revolution progressively increased toward the forward end extrusion port.

Abstract: A cordierite honeycomb structure having a coefficient of thermal conductivity of not less than 0.035 J/cm..degree.K.sec, a porosity of not more than 16%, and a coefficient of thermal expansion of not more than 1.0.times.10.sup.-6 /.degree.C. at 40 to 800.degree.0 C. is described. A process for producing a cordierite honeycomb structures, involves at least the steps of: mixing powders of kaolin, talc, and other starting materials for cordierite together so as to provide a chemical composition of cordierite; extruding the mixture; and firing the extrudate, wherein the kaolin has an average particle diameter of not more than 5 .mu.m and such a particle size distribution that the proportion of particles with diameters of less than 1 .mu.m is 10% by weight and the talc has an average particle diameter of not more than 10 .mu.m and such a particle size distribution that the proportion of particles with diameters of less than 1 .mu.m is not more than 5%.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a ceramic honeycomb structure comprising partition walls 3 that form mutually adjacent flow paths having a polygonal cross-section, and a peripheral wall 5 provided around the circumference of partition walls that hold the partition walls integrated into a single unit; wherein, the mean thickness of partition walls 3 is 0.05 mm to 0.13 mm, the mean thickness of peripheral wall 5 is greater than the mean thickness of partition walls 3, and the mean contact width between partition walls 3 and peripheral wall 5 satisfies a predetermined relationship. This ceramic honeycomb structure is able to inhibit the occurrence of chipping in the vicinity of the peripheral wall.

Abstract: The present invention provides a die for molding a honeycomb structure, which can be molded without causing bending on a cell grid and which can readily cope with changes of shrinkage percentage of the product. The invention also provides a honeycomb structure, which has no bending on the cell grid and has high strength. The die according to the present invention includes a metal die 1, having a feed hole forming unit 14 provided with feed holes 15 and a slot forming unit 11 provided with slots 12, and a guide ring 2, which has an abutment surface 25 placed face-to-face to a part of the metal die 1 via a clearance sector 22. The slot forming unit includes an outer peripheral slot forming unit 130 and a main-body slot forming unit 160, and there is provided a protruded surface 17 protruded in extruding direction between a main body end surface 16 and an outer peripheral end surface 13.