Abstract: A rubber composition for a tire containing (i) 100 parts by weight of a diene-based rubber and (ii) 0.5 to 25 parts by weight of a heat-expandable microcapsule including a shell, and a substance capable of vaporizing or expanding under heating to thereby generate a gas and a nonpolar oil, both encapsulated in the shell, wherein the shell is made of a thermoplastic resin obtained by polymerization of a nitrile-based monomer (I), a monomer (II) having an unsaturated double bond and a carboxyl group in the molecule thereof, an optional monomer (III) having two or more polymerizable double bonds, and an optional copolymerizable monomer (IV) for adjusting the expansion properties.

Abstract: The hydrophilizing agent contains (a) a cationized compound of a (poly) amine, (b) an ester, (c) a dialkyl sulfosuccinate salt, (d) an alkylphosphate salt, (e) at least one glycine derivative selected from the group consisting of trialkyl glycine derivatives and (alkylamide alkyl) dialkyl glycine derivatives, and (f) a polyoxyalkylene-modified silicone; wherein the ratio of the component (a) ranges from 10 to 40 wt. %, the ratio of the component (b) ranges from 10 to 40 wt. %, the ratio of the component (c) ranges from 1 to 40 wt. %, the ratio of the component (d) ranges from 10 to 60 wt. %, the ratio of the component (e) ranges from 10 to 40 wt. %, and the ratio of the component (f) ranges from 1 to 20 wt. % of the hydrophilizing agent.

Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic tire whose frictional force on ice is improved by satisfactorily forming resin-encapsulated cells from heat-expandable microcapsules, even when a tread rubber contains silica. The tire is characterized in that: the tread rubber is made of a rubber composition containing 100 parts by weight of a diene rubber, 30 to 100 parts by weight of a reinforcing filler including at least 10 parts by weight of silica, and 1 to 20 parts by weight of microcapsules each encapsulating a heat-expandable substance; a sulfur-containing silane coupling agent is mixed in the rubber composition in an amount of 3 to 15 wt. % based on the weight of the silica; a shell material of each microcapsule is made of a thermoplastic resin which essentially contains a nitrile monomer (I); a vapor pressure of the heat-expandable substance is set at 1.4 to 3.0 MPa at 150° C.

Abstract: A production process for heat-expanded microspheres includes the step of providing a gaseous fluid containing heat-expandable microspheres, which includes a shell of thermoplastic resin and a blowing agent encapsulated therein having a boiling point not higher than the softening point of the thermoplastic resin and have an average particle size from 1 to 100 ?m. The gaseous fluid is fed through a gas-introducing tube having a dispersion nozzle on its outlet that is fixed inside a conduit having a hot gas flow flowing therethrough. A jet of the gaseous fluid is emitted through the dispersion nozzle. Further, the gaseous fluid is collided on a collision plate fixed under the dispersion nozzle so as to disperse the heat-expandable microspheres in the hot gas flow. The dispersed heat-expandable microspheres are heated in the hot gas flow at a temperature not lower than their expansion initiating temperature and thus expanded.

Abstract: Heat-expandable microspheres include a shell of thermoplastic resin and core material encapsulated in the shell. The core material include a blowing agent having a boiling point not higher than the softening point of the thermoplastic resin and a gas migration inhibitor having a boiling point higher than the softening point of the thermoplastic resin. The ratio of the gas migration inhibitor to the core material is at least 1 weight percent and below 30 weight percent. The average particle size of the heat-expandable microspheres ranges from 1 to 100 micrometers.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a finish for synthetic filament yarn processed in friction false-twist texturing, which decreases broken filaments and ends down in false-twist texturing with a synthetic filament yarn applied with the finish, finish-application emulsion of the finish, synthetic filament yarn applied with the emulsion, manufacturing process of the synthetic filament yarn, and resultant yarns. The finish for synthetic filament yarn processed in friction false-twist texturing of the present invention comprises 40 to 98 wt % of a polyether compound, and essentially comprises components (A) and (B); wherein the component (A) is at least one member selected from the group consisting of (A1) a C1-C10 fatty acid, (A2) a C1-C10 hydroxyfatty acid, (A3) a sarcosine derivative, and salts thereof, and the amount of the component (A) in the finish ranges from 0.05 to 5 wt %; and wherein the component (B) is an alkylphosphate salt and the amount of the component (B) in the finish ranges from 0.

Abstract: A production method for heat-expandable microspheres, which have high expanding ratio and are thermally expanded into hollow particulates having excellent repeated-compression durability, and application thereof are provided. The method produces heat-expandable microspheres a shell of thermoplastic resin and a blowing agent being encapsulated therein and having a boiling point not higher than the softening point of the thermoplastic resin.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a fabric treating agent to satisfy good sewability required to interior material fabrics for vehicles including automobiles and trains, the good sewability which arises from the trend toward ultrafiner fibers for manufacturing the fabrics, change in fabric structure from weave to knit, and increasing sewing machine speed. The present invention provides the fabric treating agent comprising at least one wax (a) selected from the group consisting of a paraffin wax having a melting point of 60° C. or higher, an oxidized paraffin wax having a melting point of 60° C. or higher, a polyethylene wax having a melting point of 100° C. or higher, and an oxidized polyethylene wax having a melting point of 100° C. or higher; and a nonionic surfactant (b). The present invention also provides a process for producing fabrics applied with the fabric treating agent, and provides vehicle interior material fabrics.

Abstract: The present invention provides heat-expanded microspheres having high packing efficiency, and a production method thereof. The heat-expanded microspheres are produced by expanding heat-expandable microspheres, which comprise shell of thermoplastic resin and a blowing agent encapsulated therein having a boiling point not higher than the softening point of the thermoplastic resin and have an average particle size from 1 to 100 micrometer, at a temperature not lower than their expansion initiating temperature, and the heat-expanded microspheres result in a void fraction not higher than 0.70.

Abstract: A finish for acrylic fiber to be processed into carbon fiber includes an ester compound having at least three ester groups in its molecule and a silicone compound, wherein the silicone compound constitutes 10 to 50 weight percent of the whole of the nonvolatile matter of the finish. A method of manufacturing carbon fiber includes the processes of applying the finish for acrylic fiber to be processed into carbon fiber to acrylic fiber to be processed into carbon fiber; oxidative-stabilizing the finish-applied acrylic fiber in an oxidizing atmosphere at 200 to 300 deg. C. to convert the fiber into oxidized fiber; and carbonizing the oxidized fiber in an inert atmosphere at 200 to 3000 deg. C.

Abstract: Thermo-expansive microcapsule comprising: a polymeric shell produced by polymerizing 15 to 75 weight % of a nitrile monomer, 10 to 65 weight % of a monomer having a carboxyl group, 0.1 to 20 weight % of a monomer having an amide group and 0.1 to 20 weight % of a monomer having a cyclic structure in its side chain; and a blowing agent encapsulated in the polymeric shell.

Abstract: A method that heat-expandable microspheres includes the use of a shell of thermoplastic resin and a non-fluorine blowing agent encapsulated therein having a boiling point not higher than the softening point of the thermoplastic resin. The method includes a step of dispersing an oily mixture containing a polymerizable component, the blowing agent, and a polymerization initiator containing a peroxydicarbonate in an aqueous dispersing medium to polymerize the polymerizable component contained in the oily mixture. The resultant heat-expandable microspheres have a shell which is less apt to become thinner than its theoretical value, contain minimum amount of resin particle inside their shell, and have excellent heat-expanding performance.

Abstract: Heat-expandable microspheres include a shell of thermoplastic resin and a blowing agent encapsulated therein having a boiling point not higher than the softening point of the thermoplastic resin, have a maximum expanding ratio not lower than 50 times, and are thermally expanded into hollow particulates having a repeated-compression durability not lower than 75 percent. The method of producing the heat-expandable microspheres includes the steps of dispersing an oily mixture containing a polymerizable component and the blowing agent in an aqueous dispersing medium containing a specific water-soluble compound and polymerizing the polymerizable component contained in the oily mixture.

Abstract: A rubber composition for a tire containing (i) 100 parts by weight of a diene-based rubber and (ii) 0.5 to 25 parts by weight of a heat-expandable microcapsule including a shell, and a substance capable of vaporizing or expanding under heating to thereby generate a gas and a nonpolar oil, both encapsulated in the shell, wherein the shell is made of a thermoplastic resin obtained by polymerization of a nitrile-based monomer (I), a monomer (II) having an unsaturated double bond and a carboxyl group in the molecule thereof, an optional monomer (III) having two or more polymerizable double bonds, and an optional copolymerizable monomer (IV) for adjusting the expansion properties.

Abstract: The present invention provides thermo-expansive microspheres comprising thermoplastic resinous shell and a blowing agent being encapsulated in the shell, the blowing agent which is a fluorine-containing C2-10 compound having ether linkage, being free of chlorine and bromine atoms and gasifying at a temperature not higher than the softening point of the thermoplastic resin; and also provides the production and application processes thereof. The thermo-expansive microspheres have preferably an average particle size ranging from 1 to 100 ?m and a CV, or coefficient of variation, of particle size distribution being 30% or less, and a retaining ratio of blowing agent encapsulated being 90% or more. The thermo-expansive microspheres have low environmental loading and superior flame-retardant or flame-resistant performance, and have particle sizes distributing in narrow ranges.

Abstract: The present invention provides finishes for elastic fiber, which produce elastic fiber yarn having superior antistatic, unwinding, package buildup performance and lubricity properties. The present finishes further minimize fly sticking on the elastic fiber during the knitting operation of elastic fiber yarn and cotton spun yarn. The finishes of the present invention contain 80 to 99.99 parts by weight of at least one base component selected from the group consisting of silicone oils, mineral oils and ester oils, 0.01 to 10 parts by weight of amino-modified silicones and 0.0001 to 10 parts by weight of phosphate esters containing an acidic hydroxyl group and at least one hydrocarbon or oxyalkylene group per molecule. The elastic fiber of the present invention is characterized with the application of the finish in an amount of 0.1 to 15 weight percent of the fiber.

Abstract: The hydrophilizing agent contains (a) a cationized compound of a (poly) amine, (b) an ester, (c) a dialkyl sulfosuccinate salt, (d) an alkylphosphate salt, (e) at least one glycine derivative selected from the group consisting of trialkyl glycine derivatives and (alkylamide alkyl) dialkyl glycine derivatives, and (f) a polyoxyalkylene-modified silicone; wherein the ratio of the component (a) ranges from 10 to 40 wt. %, the ratio of the component (b) ranges from 10 to 40 wt. %, the ratio of the component (c) ranges from 1 to 40 wt. %, the ratio of the component (d) ranges from 10 to 60 wt. %, the ratio of the component (e) ranges from 10 to 40 wt. %, and the ratio of the component (f) ranges from 1 to 20 wt. % of the hydrophilizing agent.

Abstract: [Problem]To obtain a fiber-treating agent and polyester staple fibers having excellent processability during the processing of polyester staple fibers with high-pressure water-jets, and excellent nonwoven fabric hydrophilicity after the high-pressure water-jet process.

Abstract: A production process for heat-expanded microspheres comprising the step of providing a gaseous fluid containing heat-expandable microspheres, which comprise shell of thermoplastic resin and a blowing agent encapsulated therein having a boiling point not higher than the softening point of the thermoplastic resin and have an average particle size from 1 to 100 ?m, feeding the gaseous fluid through a gas-introducing tube having a dispersion nozzle on its outlet and being fixed inside a hot gas flow, and emitting a jet of the gaseous fluid through the dispersion nozzle; a step wherein the gaseous fluid is collided on a collision plate fixed under the dispersion nozzle so as to disperse the heat-expandable microspheres in the hot gas flow; and a step wherein the dispersed heat-expandable microspheres are heated in the hot gas flow at a temperature not lower than their expansion initiating temperature and thus expanded.

Abstract: Glass/nanoparticle composites are provided which include a glass matrix with a high density of heterologous nanoparticles embedded therein adjacent the outer surfaces of the composite. Preferably, the glass matrix is formed of porous glass and the nanoparticles are yttrium-iron nanocrystals which exhibit the property of altering the polarization of incident electromagnetic radiation; the composites are thus suitable for use in electrooptical recording media. In practice, a glass matrix having suitable porosity is contacted with a colloidal dispersion containing amorphous yttrium-iron nanoparticles in order to embed the nanoparticles within the surface pores of the matrix. The treated glass matrix is then heated under time-temperature conditions to convert the amorphous nanoparticles into a crystalline state while also fusing the glass matrix pores.