Abstract: A transparent optical material containing at least one selenium atom, a plastic lens comprising the transparent optical material, and methods for preparing them. In addition, there are also disclosed novel selenium-containing compounds represented by the following formulae (1), (2) and (4) which are useful for the transparent optical material and the plastic lens: wherein symbols are as defined in the specification.

Abstract: A process for preparing phosphine oxides by reacting iminophosphoranes with phosphorus oxytrichloride by which highly purified phosphine oxides can be obtained industrially in a higher yield. Specifically, phosphine oxides are prepared in such a manner that iminophosphoranes are reacted with phosphorus oxytrichloride using an aprotic organic solvent with permittivity 2.2 or more at 20° C. as a solvent under special reaction conditions to give a liquid reaction product containing phosphine oxides and aminophosphonium chlorides which are yielded as a by-product at the same time as the phosphine oxides, and the above described chlorides are removed from the above described liquid reaction product by a solid-liquid separation process, and the solution having been subjected to the solid-liquid separation process is washed with water.

Abstract: Optically active chroman-3-acetic acids and optically active chroman-3-acetic acid esters can be obtained by treating a mixture of (3R)- and (3S)-chroman-3-acetic esters of formula (I) [wherein R1 is a straight or branched alkyl group having 1-5 carbon atoms and R2 is a hydrogen atom or substituted or unsubstituted amino group] is treated with an esterase which has an optically selective hydrolyzing activity or microorganisms which carry said hydrolase, or a preparation therefrom. A novel esterase derived from bacteria of genus Pseudonocardia can also be used as said esterase.

Abstract: A graft modified ethylene/&agr;-olefin copolymer obtained by graft polymerizing an ethylene/&agr;-olefin of 3 to 20 carbon atoms copolymerizing with a polar monomer in the presence of a catalyst for olefin polymerization comprising an organoaluminum oxy-compound (a) and at least two kinds of transition metal compounds (b). This ethylene/&agr;-olefin copolymer has high melt tension and high flowability. An ethylene copolymer composition comprising the above-mentioned graft modified ethylene/&agr;-olefin copolymer and polyolefin. The graft modified ethylene/&agr;-olefin copolymer of the invention is excellent in heat stability and moldability. From this copolymer, a film having a high transparency and good adhesion to highly polar materials can be produced. The ethylene copolymer composition of the invention is excellent in heat stability and moldability. From this composition, a film having high transparency and good adhesion to highly polar materials can be produced.

Abstract: A rubber composition useful as a tire side wall or tire tread is formed from an unsaturated olefin copolymer (A) or (A′) and diene rubber (B). Copolymers (A) and (A′) are each obtained from (i) ethylene, (ii) aromatic vinyl compound, (iii) non-conjugated polyene, and, optionally (iv) alpha-olefin having at least 3 carbon atoms. When used in forming a tire side wall, copolymer (A) has a molar ratio of (i)/(iv) from 100/0 to 40/60; molar ratio of [((i)+(iv))/(ii)] from 98/2 to 60/40; an intrinsic viscosity, measured in decalin, at 135° C., from 1.0 to 6.0 dl/g; and iodine value from 10 to 50. For use in tire tread, copolymer (A′), has a molar ratio (i)/(iv) from 100/0 to 40/60; molar ratio [((i)+(iv)):(ii)] from 99/1 to 85/15. The weight ratio (A′)/(B) is from 1/99 to 50/50. The compositions for tire side wall are characterized by excellent strength properties and bending fatigue resistance and low fuel consumption.

Abstract: Preparation of antiarrhythmic agents containing novel anilide derivatives represented by the following formula as active ingredient provides a new type of antiarrhythmic agent of highly safe and effective, without effects on cardiac function.

Abstract: An optical resin prepared by curing a polymerizable composition comprising a (thio)epoxy compound having at least one intramolecular disulfide bond exhibits a considerably high refractive index while maintaining good optical properties and a high Abbe number. In addition, the above polymerizable composition to which is added primary and/or secondary amines as an yellowing inhibitor in a proportion of 0.001 to 0.5 of the total molar number of NH2 and NH groups in the amines to the total molar number of thioepoxy and epoxy groups in the (thio)epoxy compound having at least one intramolecular disulfide bond, can provide a transparent resin in which yellowing and reduction in heat resistance associated therewith are adequately prevented while maintaining a high refractive index.

Abstract: A polymeric gel electrolyte comprising: (a) an acrylic ester polymer matrix containing structural units derived from at least one acrylic ester selected from among acrylic esters represented by the general formulae: (wherein, in the formula (I), R1, R2 and R2′ are identical with or different from each other and represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R3 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and n is an integer of 1 to 100; and, in the formula (II), R4 to R9 are identical with or different from each other and represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and p, q and r are identical with or different from each other and are an integer of 1 to 100); (b) a nonaqueous solvent of a carbonic ester; and (c) a salt of a metal of Group Ia of the periodic table.

Abstract: An epoxy-resin composition comprising (A) an at least bifunctional epoxy compound and/or an at least bifunctional epoxy resin, (B) a curing agent, and (C) an accelerating agent, the accelerating agent essentially containing a phosphine oxide represented by general formula (1); where R1 to R6 all of which may be the same or not are hydrogen, straight, branched or cyclic alkyl having 1 to 10 carbons or aryl or aralkyl having 6 to 10 carbons.

Abstract: The olefin polymerization catalyst of the invention is formed from a Group IVB transition metal compound represented by the following formula (I) and an organoaluminum oxy-compound or a compound which reacts with the transition metal compound to form an ion pair.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-layer laminate comprising at least two layers of an oriented ultra-high molecular polyolefin layer and a thermoplastic resin layer. The multi-layer laminate exhibits excellent abrasion resistance, tensile strength, shock resistance, heat-sealing property, uniformity in the film thickness, and can be efficiently produced. The invention is further concerned with a process and an apparatus for producing the multi-layer laminate.

Abstract: A formed product which has a thickness of 0.1˜2 mm and a haze of 5%/2 mm or less and is degraded with ease in the natural environment is obtained by holding a transparent L-lactic acid base polymer sheet having an L-lactic acid proportion of 75% or more and a thickness of 0.2˜2 mm under conditions where: (1) a holding temperature is in the range of 55˜90° C., (2) a holding time m1 (min) satisfies the formula: log10m1<−0.083 T1+7.66, forming said sheet by adhering to the internal surface of a mold through vacuum suction, compressed air pressure or vacuum/air pressure under a condition where: (3) a mold temperature T2 is set in the range of from the glass transition temperature Tg of the L-lactic acid base polymer to the holding temperature T1, and taking out the formed product from the mold after reducing an internal temperature of the mold to less than Tg.

Abstract: A process for preparing hydroperoxides which comprises oxidizing hydrocarbon by a gas containing oxygen in the presence of a specific compound and converting them selectively to corresponding hydroperoxides. The specific compound is the compound that can capture radicals. The preferable example may be a compound selected from radicals of oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, carbon or silicon or a compound that forms radicals of these in the reaction system. The present invention can be applied to oxidation of hydrocarbons including arylalkylhydrocarbons such as cumene, m-diisopropylbenzene, p-diisopropylbenzene, 1,3,5-triisopropylbenzene, isopropylnaphthalene, diisopropylnaphthalene, isopropylbiphenyl, diisopropylbiphenyl, etc.

Abstract: In a novel method of homo- or copolymerization of vinyl chloride, a specified coating agent is applied on the surfaces of the portions which will become into contact with the vinyl chloride monomer during the polymerization process. The coating agent is in a form of an aqueous solution of a modified condensation product of phenol and aldehyde, the pH of the solution being adjusted in a range that the product is dissolved at an ambient temperature upon coating of the solution and separates out of the solution upon being heated on the surfaces. The wall surface of the polymerization tank and the like is then coated with a thin film of the coating agent having a uniform thickness and being strongly adhered to the wall surface, thereby providing an excellent effect of preventing adhesion of the product polymer to the wall surface.

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. Further disclosed is a propylene polymer composition comprising the above propylene polymer 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. The propylene polymer of the invention is excellent in rigidity, heat resistance and moisture resistance, and can be favorably used for sheet, film, filament, injection molded product, blow molded product, etc.

Abstract: Urethane modified polyester resin which has a total acid value not greater than 10 KOH mg/g and has been obtained by kneading, in a molten state, a base polyester resin (A) having an acid value of 5 to 20 KOH mg/g and a hydroxyl value of 40 to 70 KOH mg/g, a low-molecular-weight polyester resin (B) having an acid value not greater than 5 KOH mg/g, a hydroxyl value not greater than 10 KOH mg/g and a weight-average molecular weight of 3,000 to 5,000 and a polyisocyanate compound, by using the components (A) and (B) at a weight ratio of 3 to 5:7 to 5 and the polyisocyanate compound in an amount of 0.2 to 1.2 equivalent, in terms of an isocyanate group per equivalent, of the total hydroxyl groups of all the resins. This novel urethane-modified polyester resin (C) is used as a binder resin for the toner. For the preparation of the toner, the resin is mixed and kneaded with a colorant, magnetic powders, charge control agent and the like under a molten state, followed by cooling and pulverization.

Abstract: On an n-GaAs substrate are sequentially formed an n-GaAs buffer layer, an n-AlGaAs cladding layer, a non-doped InGaAs active layer, a p-AlxGa1−xAs cladding layer, a p-GaAs contact layer, and further an n-AlGaAs current blocking layer having a stripe-like window is embedded in the cladding layer. At the active layer side interface of the current blocking layer, a diffraction grating of cyclic bumps and dips shape is formed, but the diffraction grating is not formed in a region of the stripe-like window where the current blocking layer is not present, i.e., a current injection region. In this way, a semiconductor laser device of low oscillation threshold, high oscillation efficiency, high reliability, long life time, and stabilized oscillation wavelength can be realized.

Abstract: An agent for treating an exhaust gas, which is a mixture of a solid metal oxide and a solid metal carbonate as a main component, the metal being selected from the group of metal elements consisting of Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu and Zn. The agent is made of a molded article obtained by granulation, pelletization or extrusion of the mixture, and can be used in a process of treating an exhaust gas, capable of reducing the concentration of the exhaust gas containing a low concentration of a metal hydride gas and/or an organometallic gas to at least 0.5 ppm or lower.

Abstract: There are herein disclosed a poly{1-(1-alkoxyalkoxy)-4-(1-methylethenyl)benzene} having a narrow molecular weight distribution, for example, a poly{1-(1-alkoxyethoxy)-4-(1-methylethenyl)benzene} or a poly{1-(2-tetrahydrofuranyloxy)-4-(1-methylethenyl)benzene} which is useful as a chemical amplification type positive resist material; a preparation process of the polymer which comprises reacting industrially easily available 4-(1-methylethenyl)phenol with a vinyl ether to produce an alkoxyalkoxy compound, and then carrying out an anionic polymerization; and a preparation process of poly{4-(1-methylethenyl)phenol} having a narrow molecular weight distribution useful as a tease polymer for a chemical amplification type positive resist material which comprises reacting the above-mentioned polymer with a protonic acid in the presence of an organic solvent.

Abstract: A method of producing a semiconductor wafer, which can prevent the breakage of a wafer, and also can reduce the working time in a series of operations attended by back surface grinding of the semiconductor wafer. The method involves producing a semiconductor wafer wherein an adhesive tape is applied on the surface of the semiconductor wafer and, after grinding the back surface of the semiconductor wafer using a grinding machine, the adhesive tape is peeled off, said process comprises using an adhesive tape having heat shrinkability as the adhesive tape, grinding the back surface of the semiconductor wafer and heating the adhesive tape in the grinding machine, thereby peeling off the adhesive tape from the surface of the semiconductor wafer.