Abstract: A grinding apparatus includes a roller mill in which material particles are pre-ground, a tube mill connected to the roller mill through a fluidized-bed-type classifying device in which the material particles are classified by size and a circulation line is connected between the classifying device and the roller mill, wherein a fluidized portion of the pre-ground particles, which consists of a fine material component is fed into a tube mill, a remaining portion of the pre-ground particles, which consists of course material and some amount of fine material not fed into the tube mill is returned to the roller mill through the circulation line where the remaining portion of the pre-ground particles is again crushed together with newly fed material particles in the roller mill.

Abstract: A method of growing a rod form of a single oxide crystal is disclosed. The method uses a slit die which is placed in a crucible with a starting melt. The melt is seeded with a seed crystal while being rotated. The resulting crystal will have the same sectional shape as the shape of the upper surface of the die.

Abstract: Disclosed are (1) a Xenopus laevis bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), (2) a DNA comprising a DNA segment coding for a Xenopus laevis BMP, (3) a transformant bearing a DNA comprising a DNA segment coding for a Xenopus laevis BMP and (4) a method for preparing the Xenopus laevis BMP which comprises culturing the described in (3), producing and accumulating the protein in a culture, and collecting the protein thus obtained. Cells transfected or transformed with the DNA allow large amounts of the Xenopus laevis BMP mature peptides to be produced, which causes the advantageous production of the peptides, which promote the synthesis of proteoglycan and can also be utilized for analysis of the mechanism of organism, particularly human bone-cartilage morphogenetic reaction, and as therapeutic agents for osteoporosis.

Abstract: A rutile single crystal with no grain boundaries of large inclination is obtained by an EFG crystal growth process wherein a die provided with slits is incorporated in a feed melt 2 to deliver up the melt through the slits until it reaches the upper face of the die, thereby obtaining a single crystal conforming in configuration to the die by pulling growth.

Abstract: A method of bonding a light polarizer having a metal sheet 4, 4-1 affixed to an end face thereof to a securing metal layer 5 involves bonding the securing metal layer 6 to the metal sheet 4, 4-1 by means of welding, whereby not only the working efficiency may be enhanced, but also long-term reliability in bonding may be ensured.

Abstract: An optical isolator according to the invention comprises a first birefringent element for separating an incident light beam into two light beams that are vertical to each other in the polarization direction and are not parallel with each other in the propagation direction, a 45.degree. Faraday rotator, a second birefringent element that is identical with the first birefringent element in terms of the light beam-separation angle but is different by 45.degree. from the first polarizer in terms of the angle the separated two light beams make to the polarization of the beams, and at least one birefringent crystal plane plate that has a function capable of converging two parallel light beams, with the planes of polarization at right angles with each other, into a single beam.

Abstract: A composite substrate is provided, which comprises a cordierite-anorthite-boron base composite material and has a microstructure with anorthite included in the cordierite phase. This substrate can be used in the form of a circuit substrate, because it has high-enough mechanical strength, a coefficient of thermal expansion close to that of silicon and a decreased dielectric constant and, moreover, can be sintered at a low temperature.

Abstract: The invention provides a ceramic conveyor belt assembly including a plurality of first conveyor belt parts, each comprising front and rear transverse bars and left and right longitudinal bars connecting the transverse bars, and pins located on the front and rear transverse bars and extending laterally therefrom. Further, there exists a plurality of second conveyor belt parts in the shape of a columnar member, each having a keyhole shaped so as to conform with the corresponding portion of the transverse bars. This ceramic conveyor belt is excellent in heat resistance and chemical resistance, unlikely to form rust and less likely to undergo loss in strength even at high temperature. In case some parts fail, they can be easily replaced by new parts.

Abstract: A method for making mullite whiskers includes the steps of:preparing a mullite-intensive sol by mixing an alumina sol with a silica sol at a molar Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 /SiO.sub.2 ratio of 1.37-1.76,gelating said mullite-intensive sol by adding HF thereto at a molar HF/3Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 .multidot.2SiO.sub.2 ratio of 0.01-0.1,drying the gel at a temperature lower than 120.degree. C.; andcalcining the dried product in an open system at a temperature up to 1000.degree. C. and in a closed system at a temperature from 1200.degree.-1600.degree. C.

Abstract: Disclosed here is a shaped article superconductor comprising platelets of superconducting oxide crystals which are normally anisotropic but in which said anisotropy is reduced by joining together the oxides superconductor crystallites with a normally conductive metal layer interposed therebetween. The separation distances of the platelets are, on the average, less than the coherence length of the normally conductive metal under conditions which render the oxide crystals superconductive.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for producing a paving block comprising a block substrate and a solid top layer selected from a tile-like layer and a cured cement mortar layer firmly bonded onto the upper surface of the block substrate. The apparatus comprises a mortar applicator (21) consisting essentially of a mortar container and a masking bottom board (23) having an opening (24) to be located on the back of a top layer (1-2) or the upper surface of a block substrate (1-1) during application of cement mortar thereon, a clamping plate (25) to be located on the top layer (1-2) placed on the block substrate (1-1) during bonding them, and a scraping frame (26) for scraping excess mortar remaining on the side surfaces of the bonded block. When the apparatus is used to produce a novel paving block comprising a block substrate and a solid top layer having a plane dimension smaller than the substrate, squeeze-out deposits (6) of the cement mortar (7) are further formed around the bonded top layer (1-2).

Abstract: A system for making a composite block, including a block body formed of mortar or concrete and a covering material such as a tile, natural stone or mortar sheet applied to the upper surface of the block body, includes an applicator for applying an adhesive material to the block body or covering material. The system also includes a press for loading vibration and/or pressure on a composite block assembly including the block body, the covering material placed thereon and an adhesive material disposed therebetween. Additionally, this system includes a finishing mechanism for finishing the pressed composite block assembly into the composite block by passing it through a hole of a size substantially corresponding to the contour of the composite block. The hole is formed through a scraper constructed from a flexible material.

Abstract: The fracture-free paving block comprises a cement block substrate and a top solid layer, and is characterized in that the top layer is selected from a cured cement mortar layer and tile-like layer firmly bonded to the substrate with cement mortar; the top layer is bonded to the block substrate with lateral margins of 1 to 8 mm wide in horizontal distance from the peripheral edges of the substrate; and the vertical distance from the surface of the top layer to the peripheral edge of the substrate is 5 to 50 mm.

Abstract: A method for making composite mullite/cordierite ceramics comprises the steps of:preparing a mullite-intensive sol by mixing alumina and silica sols together at an Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 /SiO.sub.2 molar ratio of 1.37-1.76,preparing a cordierite-intensive sol by mixing alumina, silica and magnesia sols together,gelating a mixture of the mullite- and cordierite-intensive sols obtained at a weight ratio of 80:20-20:80calcinating the thus obtained gel at 1200.degree.-1400.degree. C., andcompacting and sintering the thus calcinated material at 1300.degree.-1450.degree. C.

Abstract: The fracture-free paving block (1) comprises a cement block substrate (1-1) and a top solid layer (1-2), and is characterized in that the top layer is selected from a cured cement mortar layer and a tile-like layer firmly bonded to the substrate with cement mortar; the top layer is bonded to the block substrate with lateral margins (2) of 1 to 8 mm wide in horizontal distance (1.sub.5) from the peripheral edges of the substrate: and the vertical distance (1.sub.6) from the surface of the top layer to the peripheral edge of the substrate is 5 to 50 mm. The method for producing the paving block (1) having a tile-like top layer comprises applying adhesive cement mortar between the back of the top layer (1-2) and the upper surface of the substrate (1-1); placing the top layer on the substrate with the above-mentioned margins (2) of the substrate surface: and applying vibration and/or pressurization between the top layer and the substrate.

Abstract: A solidification processing apparatus for radioactive waste materials comprises a tank for a solidifying agent for solidifying the radioactive waste materials, a waste material vessel connected to the tank for the radioactive waste materials, a pouring control unit for controlling pouring of the solidifying agent into the vessel, and a heating and curing chamber for heating the vessel by an indirect heating unit after pouring the solidifying agent onto the waste materials in the vessel to polymerize and set the solidifying agent, thereby solidifying the radioactive waste materials. With this arrangement, the solidifying agent superior in impregnation is poured into a vessel filled with radioactive waste materials, whose poured amount is controlled by the pouring control unit. After pouring the solidifying agent into the vessel, the vessel is heated indirectly by an indirect heating unit in order to avoid deflagration if the solidifying agent is combustible.

Abstract: A pressure-regulating device for impact-resistant containers used for storage, transportation and disposal of hazardous waste materials, is herein disclosed, which comprises a vent fixed to the lid of said container to keep the gaseous phase pressure inside said container at a positive pressure of 50% or less of the pressure resistance of said container, the vent being columnar and made of an alumina-based sintered ceramic and having a porosity of 50% or less, a pore diameter range of 0.4 to 1.4 .mu. and a length (mm)/cross-sectional area (mm.sup.2) ratio of 2 to 10.

Abstract: A process for preparing a zirconia-alumina base composite ultra-fine powder is described, including the steps of: mixing an aluminum salt or an alumina hydrate with an aqueous zirconium oxychloride solution, with or without metal salt acting as a stabilizer; mixing urea or a substance capable of generating ammonia by hydrolysis with the resulting mixture; and allowing the mixture to react at a temperature of 140.degree. to 300.degree. C. and a pressure of 4 to 150 kg/cm.sup.2 in a high-temperature and -pressure vessel. The reaction product is further dried, calcined and crushed to obtain an ultra-fine powder.

Abstract: A high integrity container having a three-layered structure that is suitable as a container for use in storage and disposal of radioactive wastes or industrial wastes can be fabricated by casting a concrete lining as an inner layer on the inner surface of a metallic vessel as an outer layer, reinforcing the concrete lining with a reinforcing material and strengthening the concrete lining with an impregnant, and polymerizing and curing the impregnant layer that is formed as an intermediate layer between said metal drum and the concrete lining.

Abstract: A voltage non-linearity type resistor and a process for the preparation of a voltage non-linearity type resistor wherein pre-sintering is effected at a temperature of no lower than 700.degree. C. with a basic composition including X mole % of ZnO and (100-X) mole % of Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 (wherein 40.ltoreq.X.ltoreq.60), and sintering is then effected with the resulting pre-sintered body to which at least one of V.sub.2 O.sub.5, Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3, MgO, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, MoO.sub.3, Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3, SiO.sub.2, NiO, SrO.sub.2 and PbO is further added in a proportion of 0.01-40% by weight.