Abstract: An alumina fiber aggregate which is minimized in scatter of fibers, excels in handling characteristics and working environmental hygiene and finds its useful application to support mats for catalytic converters and such is provided. An alumina fiber aggregate comprising alumina short fibers having such properties that when diameters of said alumina short fibers are represented by x (?m), the rate at which the natural logarithmic value ln x in lognormal distribution of x is less than ln 3 is not more than 2%, and the value left after deducting from the length-weighted geometric mean of said fiber diameters a value twice its standard error is not more than 6 ?m; and a support mat for catalytic converters comprising such an alumina fiber aggregate.

Abstract: An alumina fiber aggregate which is minimized in scatter of fibers, excels in handling characteristics and working environmental hygiene and finds its useful application to support mats for catalytic converters and such is provided. An alumina fiber aggregate comprising alumina short fibers having such properties that when diameters of said alumina short fibers are represented by x (?m), the rate at which the natural logarithmic value ln x in lognormal distribution of x is less than ln 3 is not more than 2%, and the value left after deducting from the length-weighted geometric mean of said fiber diameters a value twice its standard error is not more than 6 ?m; and a support mat for catalytic converters comprising such an alumina fiber aggregate.

Abstract: A carbon-fiber-reinforced SiC composite having a high tensile strength is produced by impregnating a carbon-fiber-reinforced carbon composite with melted metal Si. The carbon-fiber-reinforced carbon composite includes carbon fibers that are pitch-based short carbon fibers. The pitch-based short carbon fibers are oriented in two-dimensional random directions. The carbon-fiber-reinforced carbon composite has a bulk density of 1.2 to 1.7 g/cm3, a porosity of 15 to 40 vol %, and a carbon fiber volume content of 20 to vol %.

Abstract: A sliding material consisting of a carbon-fiber reinforced carbon composite material containing fine particles of a simple substance of any of Group IV to Group VI elements or a carbide, a nitride or an oxide thereof.

Abstract: A process for producing a continuous alumina fiber blanket by heat treating an alumina fiber precursor formed from a spinning solution containing an aluminum compound, by using a specific high-temperature furnace capable of high-temperature-heat treatment. According to this process, a continuous sheet (W) of alumina fiber precursor formed from a spinning solution containing an aluminum compound is supplied continuously into a high-temperature furnace and subjected to heat treatment while being conveyed in one direction by plural conveying mechanisms (2, 3) disposed in said high-temperature furnace. In this operation, the speed of said conveying mechanisms is reduced progressively in the direction of conveyance in correspondence to the rate of heat shrinkage of the continuous sheet (W) of alumina fiber precursor, thereby to lessen fiber crush in the alumina fiber precursor and obtain a continuous alumina fiber blanket with uniform thickness and high bulk density as well as high strength.

Abstract: A foldable floor heating panel can be folded longitudinally and laterally. The foldable floor heating panel includes several small plate-like members of a rectangular plan configuration, which are arranged longitudinally and laterally so as to be adjacent to each other. A flexible thin plate is attached to upper surfaces of the small plate-like members so as to allow longitudinal and lateral folding. Heat carrier flexible tube passages are provided in longitudinal and lateral folding portions of the panel so as to leave some play, and folding margin members are provided at the lateral folding portions. Fit-in members are attachably and detachably provided in respective heat carrier flexible tube passages with some play.

Abstract: An alumina fiber aggregate which is minimized in scatter of fibers, excels in handling characteristics and working environmental hygiene and finds its useful application to support mats for catalytic converters and such is provided. An alumina fiber aggregate comprising alumina short fibers having such properties that when diameters of said alumina short fibers are represented by x (?m), the rate at which the natural logarithmic value lnx in lognormal distribution of x is less than ln3 is not more than 2%, and the value left after deducting from the length-weighted geometric mean of said fiber diameters a value twice its standard error is not more than 6 ?m; and a support mat for catalytic converters comprising such an alumina fiber aggregate.

Abstract: A process for producing a continuous alumina fiber blanket by heat treating an alumina fiber precursor formed from a spinning solution containing an aluminum compound, by using a specific high-temperature furnace capable of high-temperature heat treatment. According to this process, a continuous sheet (W) of alumina fiber precursor formed from a spinning solution containing an aluminum compound is supplied continuously into a high-temperature furnace and subjected to heat treatment while being conveyed in one direction by plural conveying mechanisms (2, 3) disposed in said high-temperature furnace. In this operation, the speed of said conveying mechanisms is reduced progressively in the direction of conveyance in correspondence to the rate of heat shrinkage of the continuous sheet (W) of alumina fiber precursor, thereby to lessen fiber crush in the alumina fiber precursor and obtain a continuous alumina fiber blanket with uniform thickness and high bulk density as well as high strength.

Abstract: A process for producing a continuous alumina fiber blanket by heat treating an alumina fiber precursor formed from a spinning solution containing an aluminum compound, by using a specific high-temperature furnace capable of high-temperature heat treatment. According to this process, a continuous sheet (W) of alumina fiber precursor formed from a spinning solution containing an aluminum compound is supplied continuously into a high-temperature furnace and subjected to heat treatment while being conveyed in one direction by plural conveying mechanisms (2, 3) disposed in said high-temperature furnace. In this operation, the speed of said conveying mechanisms is reduced progressively in the direction of conveyance in correspondence to the rate of heat shrinkage of the continuous sheet (W) of alumina fiber precursor, thereby to lessen fiber crush in the alumina fiber precursor and obtain a continuous alumina fiber blanket with uniform thickness and high bulk density as well as high strength.

Abstract: A foldable heat radiation board includes a plurality of elongated and narrow plate-like members with fluid tube embedding grooves provided therein, and the plate-like members are combined with each other in a quadrangular plan configuration. Fluid tubes are embedded in the embedding grooves, and a heat radiation sheet is attached to the entire surface on the front surface side, while a back surface material is attached to the entire or partial surface on the back surface side. A plurality of contact portions in which the end portions of adjacent plate-like members contact each other are set as folding portions, and a fluid tube outlet opening portion in the end portion of one of the plate-like members and a fluid tube inlet opening portion in the end portion of the other of the plate-like members are provided so as not to oppose each other but to be shifted from each other, this portion being set as a fluid tube passage portion.

Abstract: A foldable floor heating panel can be folded longitudinally and laterally. The foldable floor heating panel includes several small plate-like members of a rectangular plan configuration, which are arranged longitudinally and laterally so as to be adjacent to each other. A flexible thin plate is attached to upper surfaces of the small plate-like members so as to allow longitudinal and lateral folding. Heat carrier flexible tube passages are provided in longitudinal and lateral folding portions of the panel so as to leave some play, and folding margin members are provided at the lateral folding portions. Fit-in members are attachably and detachably provided in respective heat carrier flexible tube passages with some play.

Abstract: An alumina fiber aggregate comprising alumina short fibers whose average diameter is 4.0 to 10.0 &mgr;m and smallest diameter is not less than 3.0 &mgr;m, and a method of producing an alumina fiber aggregate which comprises spinning a spinning solution containing basic aluminum chloride, a silicon compound, an organic polymer and water by the blowing method, and calcining the obtained aggregate of alumina short fiber precursor, the spinning solution being one in which the aluminum/silicon ratio is 99/1 to 65/35 calculated as Al2O3/SiO2 ratio by weight, the concentration of basic aluminum chloride is 180 to 200 g/L and the concentration of the organic polymer is 20 to 40 g/L. The alumina short fibers in the alumina fiber aggregate are enlarged in diameter to suppress scattering of the fibers.

Abstract: A sliding material consisting of a carbon-fiber reinforced carbon composite material containing fine particles of a simple substance of any of Group IV to Group VI elements or a carbide, a nitride or an oxide thereof.