Abstract: High-purity alkanolamines, whose iron content is less than 50 ppb, are provided. Said high-purity alkanolamines can be produced by covering with an alkanolamine-resistant material at least a part of the inner wall of equipment that contacts alkanolamines from the top of the distillation tower to the storage tank in producing a high-purity alkanolamine from a crude alkanolamine by using distillation towers.

Abstract: A modified phenolic hydroxyl-containing resin having a low free difunctional phenol content and represented by general formula (1); a solid epoxy resin having an epoxy equivalent of 450 to 2,500 g/eq and prepared by epoxidizing the above resin; and another solid epoxy resin having an epoxy equivalent of 1,500 to 60,000 g/eq and a number-average molecular weight of 3,000 to 15,000 and prepared by reacting the above epoxy resin with a difunctional phenol compound. Resin compositions containing these resins have many applications as powder coatings and can paints. In formula (1), X represents a residue of a difunctional phenol compounds; X's may be the same or different; and n is the number of repeating units and is an integer of 0 or above.

Abstract: The present invention is a short time curing method of epoxy resin compositions composed of epoxy resins with more than 1.8 epoxy groups and curing agents which can react with epoxy groups and cure the epoxy resins at ambient temperatures or under the temperature raising conditions radiating microwave in the range of 300 MHz to 30 GHz frequency.

Abstract: In order to carry out various vapor-phase reactions (e.g., the preparation of aziridine compounds by a vapor-phase intramolecular dehydration reaction) with industrial advantages, there is provided a process which can effectively prevent the adhesion of tarry matter to piping and the like. This process is applicable, for example, to the preparation of aziridine compounds by using a reactor for carrying out the vapor-phase intramolecular dehydration reaction of an alkanolamine, a collection column for collecting an aziridine compound present in the reaction gas, and a distillation column for distilling the collector liquid to obtain a purified aziridine compound, and is characterized in that at least the piping section extending from the outlet of the reactor to the inlet of the collection column is maintained at a temperature which is not lower than 200° C., or in that the reaction gas is brought into contact with a collector prior to its introduction into the collection column.

Abstract: A process for producing acrylic acid through vapor-phase catalytic oxidation of acrolein or acrolein-containing gas with molecular oxygen or a molecular oxygen-containing gas using a catalyst-filled fixed bed shell-and-tube reactor is provided, which is characterized in that plural catalysts of different activity levels which are prepared by changing the kind and/or amount of alkaline metal(s) therein are filled in the reaction tubes in such an arrangement that the activity levels rise from the gas-inlet side toward the gas-outlet side of said tubes. According to this process, not only yield and productivity of acrylic acid are improved but also excessive heat, accumulation in the catalyst layer can be inhibited and catalysts degradation under heat is prevented, resulting in prolongation of catalyst life.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lightweight protective ear guard which relies on an outer air cushion created between a semi-rigid inner shell and a resilient outer shell to provide a multi-level degree of shock absorbency and protection for the ears. The wearable structures comprising a pair of ear guards connected by a plurality of adjustable strap members are provided for particular use by wrestlers to protect their ears from injury due to contact with wrestling surface and other wrestlers.

Abstract: An adsorbent to an aromatic hydroxy compound, which comprises composite metal oxide solid solution particles of the following formula (1) or hydrotalcite-like composite metal hydroxide particles of the following formula (2), and a method of removing an aromatic hydroxy compound in a solvent by using the adsorbent. (Mgy1M2+y2)1−xAlxO1+0.5x  (1) (Mgy1M2+y2)1−zAlz(OH)2+a(An−)b.mH2O  (2) Provided according to the present invention is an adsorbent capable of efficiently removing an aromatic hydroxy compound from an aqueous solvent or an organic solvent containing an aromatic hydroxy compound.

Abstract: A thermal recording material which has high sensitivity in color development and a high whiteness of the background and is excellent in image retention and heat resistance. The thermal recording material contains a dihydroxydiphenylsulfon compound represented by general formula (1) as an organic color developer and 3-di-n-pentylamino-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran as a colorless basic dye. (In the formula, R1 and R2 each represents C1-8 alkyl, alkenyl, or halogeno; and p and q each is an integer of 0 to 3.

Abstract: A polishing pad for polishing a surface of a work, (A) said polishing pad being made of a resin formed of a ring-opened polymer from a cycloolefin by metathesis polymerization, and (B) said resin having a heat deformation temperature of 90 to 135° C., a compression elastic modulus of 980 to 2,940 MPa and a water absorption of 0.01 to 0.25% by weight. The polishing pad of the present invention has a proper hardness, shows a low water absorption, causes no damage on a work surface and has durability.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a production apparatus of expansion-molded articles, comprising a mold equipped with a foamed particle feeder having a foamed-particle feed opening and a compressed-air ejection nozzle opening toward the mold, by which foamed particles contained in a hopper is filled into the mold through the foamed-particle feed opening by ejecting compressed air from the compressed-air ejection nozzle and then heated to expand them, and the foamed particles thus expanded are then cooled, thereby producing an expansion-molded article, wherein the apparatus is equipped with a compressed-air discharge orifice opening toward the foamed particle filling side of the apparatus in the course of a foamed-particle supply line connecting the hopper to the foamed-particle feed opening. An auxiliary member for transfer of foamed particles used in the production apparatus, and a production method of expansion-molded articles using this apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are a propylene polymer having a high crystallinity of a boiled heptane-insoluble component contained therein, a high stereoregularity and an extremely long mesochain (continuous propylene units wherein directions of &agr;-methyl carbons are the same as each other), and a process for preparing said polymer. Also disclosed are a propylene block copolymer containing a crystalline polypropylene portion having a high crystallinity of a boiled heptane-insoluble component contained therein, a high stereoregularity and an extremely long mesochain, and a process for preparing said copolymer. Further disclosed is a propylene polymer composition comprising the above propylene polymer or propylene block copolymer and at least one stabilizer selected from a phenol type stabilizer, an organophosphite type stabilizer, a thioether type stabilizer, a hindered amine type stabilizer and a metallic salt of higher aliphatic acid.

Abstract: A catalyst which is a complex oxide catalyst represented by the following general formula (1): MoaVbWcCudAeBfCgDhEiOx  (1) (in which Mo is molybdenum; V is vanadium, W is tungsten, Cu is copper, A is at least an element selected from antimony, niobium and tin; B is at least an element selected from alkaline earth metals; C is at least an element selected from silicon, aluminum, titanium and zirconium; D is at least an element selected from phosphorus, tellurium, cerium, lead, arsenic and zinc; E is at least an element selected from Group IA and Group IIIb elements of the periodic table, boron, iron, bismuth, cobalt, nickel and manganese; and O is oxygen; a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i and x denote the atomic ratios of Mo, V, W, Cu, A, B, C, D, E and O, respectively; and where a=12, 2≦b≦15, 0≦c≦10, 0<d≦6, 0≦e≦6, 0<f≦10, 0<g≦10, 0≦h≦5, 0≦i≦5, and x is a numerical value determined by the extents of oxidation of the other elements) which is character

Abstract: A dye fixing agent for water-color ink to be contained in the water-color ink accepting layer of an ink jet recording medium having a water-color ink accepting layer formed on a substrate, which is a hydrotalcite compound containing a silicic acid anion and a sulfuric acid ion, or a silicic acid anion as an anion(s) and metal lithium. An ink jet recording medium comprising the dye fixing agent for water-color ink on a substrate. The dye fixing agent for water-color ink provided by the present invention is excellent in the fixability of water-color ink and the ink jet recording medium provided by the present invention is excellent in the resolution, water resistance and light resistance of an image recorded on the medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides a speaker unit comprising a diaphragm of 0.5 to 10 mm thick aromatic polycarbonate with a density of 0.03 to 0.6 g/cm3, and a mechanism for driving the diaphragm. The aromatic polycarbonate used for the diaphragm is preferably derived from bisphenol with a viscosity average molecular weight of 25,000 to 70,000. The invention further provides a speaker system comprising such a speaker unit attached to a cabinet and a method for manufacturing the speaker diaphragm.

Abstract: The present invention provides thick extruded foam which is extruded polyolefin resin foam having open cells, used for cushion material and packaging material and the like, which exhibits uniform physical product properties, high expansion ratio, and uniform cell diameter. The extruded open cell foam of the present invention is an extruded foam exhibiting an open cell foaming ratio of 50% or greater, the base resin whereof is principally composed of a mixed polymer consisting of 4.5 to 75 parts by weight of component A consisting of an ethylene ionomer resin, 0.5 to 30 parts by weight of component B consisting of a polyolefin resin having a melting point exceeding 120° C., and 20 to 95 parts by weight of component C consisting of one or two or more polymers selected from a group of ethylene-propylene rubbers, styrene elastomers, and polyethylene resins having melting points of 120° C. or lower (where component A+component B+component C=100 parts by weight).

Abstract: Olefin polymerization catalyests are formed from: (I-2) a contact product obtained by contacting (A) a solid titanium catalyst component, (B) an organometallic compound catalyst component, and (D) a specific polyether compounds, (II-2)(C) a specific organosilicon compound, and, optionally, (III-2) an organometallic compound catalyst component; or the contact product (I-2) may be replaced by one which is obtained by prepolymerizing an olefin of 2 or more carbon atoms in the presence of the catalyst components for the contact product (I-2).

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing expansion-molded articles continuously by conveying foamed beads into a heating region sandwiched between upper and lower belts. The apparatus has a belt that continuously travels along the upper inside face of a passageway, defined by structural members, whose cross-section constitutes an approximately rectangular shape and a belt that continuously travels along the lower inside face thereof. At least one of the upper and lower structural members that form the passageway is capable of movement in the vertical direction between the side-face structural members such that the thickness of the expansion-molded article can easily be varied. And at least one of the side-face structural members is capable of movement in the lateral direction between the upper and lower structural members such that the width of the expansion-molded article can easily be varied.

Abstract: A chromene compound which develops yellow to red color, a high color density and a little initial color and which, when used in combination with an existing photochromic compound that exhibits blue color so as to develop a neutral tint, maintains uniformity in the color tone at the time of developing color or fading color, or exhibits a very large color fading rate.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a phosphorus containing epoxy resin compositions, comprising an epoxy resin composition (a) in which a phosphorus containing epoxy resin (A) and a hardener are contained, wherein said phosphorus containing epoxy resin (A) is a phosphorus containing resin composition prepared by reacting phosphorus containing organic compounds (B) obtained by the reaction in the range of molar ratio of 1.01 to 2 moles of organic phosphorus compounds (b) having one active hydrogen atom bonded to phosphorus atom and 1 mole of quinone compound with at least one kind of epoxy resins (C) selected from the groups composed of general formula 1, general formula 2 or general formula 3 so as the content of said epoxy resins (C) to be from 20 to 45 wt.

Abstract: This invention provides a solid titanium catalyst component which comprises magnesium, titanium, halogen and an electron donor, is free from elimination of titanium when washed with hexane at room temperature, and has a titanium content decrease ratio of less than 15 % by weight when washed with o-dichlorobenzene at 90° C. The catalyst component can be prepared by a process wherein solid titanium (i) which is free from elimination of titanium when washed with hexane at room temperature is contacted with a polar compound having a dipole moment of 0.50 to 4.00 Debye to decrease the titanium content by at least 25 % by weight, whereby a solid titanium catalyst component having a weight ratio of an electron donor to titanium of at least 6 is prepared. Olefin polymerization catalyst containing the solid titanium catalyst component can be used for (co)polymerization of olefins with high activity to obtain a polyolefin of high stereoregularity in decreased quantities of a low stereoregular polyolefin.