Abstract: An olefin polymerization catalyst having an excellent polymerization activity and an olefin polymerization process using the catalyst are disclosed. The olefin polymerization catalyst comprises (A) a transition metal compound represented by, for example, the following formula (I) and optionally (B) at least one compound selected from an organometallic compound, an organoaluminum oxy-compound and a compound which reacts with the transition metal compound (A) to from an ion pair; wherein M is a transition metal atom of Group 3 to Group 11 of the periodic table; m is an integer of 1 to 6; A is —O—, —S—, —Se— or —N(R5)—; D is —C(R7)(R8)—, —Si(R9)(R10)— or the like; Z is —R13 and —R14, ═C(R15)R16, ═NR17 or the like; R1 to R17 are each H, a hydrocarbon group or the like; n is a number satisfying a valence of M; and X is halogen, a hydrocarbon group or the like.

Abstract: A biologically absorbable polyhydroxycarboxylic acid in which a content of water-soluble acid components is not more than 0.07 mol/kg in terms of monobasic acids, and which has a weight average molecular weight of 4,000 to 100,000 and contains neither a catalyst nor an organic solvent, and a production method thereof.

Abstract: A circuit board comprising a resin molded article which includes a metal powder coated by an insulation film and a metal conductor which is formed by metal deposition over a circuit pattern drawn by laser beam irradiation on the surface of the resin molded article through electroless plating, and the method of producing the same.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a laminate comprising an olefinic thermoplastic elastomer which comprises: (a) a substratum layer comprising an olefinic thermoplastic elastomer composition (A) having the following characteristics {circle around (1)} to {circle around (3)}: {circle around (1)} 9≦Y−0.43X≦27  (1)  wherein X denotes the JIS A-hardness value (a dimensionless value) of the olefinic thermoplastic elastomer composition determined according to the prescription of JIS K6301 and Y represents the compression set value (expressed by %) of the olefinic thermoplastic elastomer composition determined according to the prescription of JIS K6301 under a condition of 70° C.

Abstract: A flow rate sensor for performing a flow rate detection of fluid with high accuracy without suffering adverse effect of the environmental temperature condition even when the fluid is viscous fluid having relatively high viscosity or the flow rate is relatively small is provided. The flow rate sensor includes a flow rate detector having a heating function and a temperature sensing function, and a pipe line for fluid to be detected which is formed so that heat from the flow rate detector is transferred to and absorbed by the fluid. The temperature sensing which is affected by a heat absorption effect of the fluid due to the heat is executed in the flow rate detector, and the flow rate of the fluid in the pipe line is detected on the basis of the temperature sensing result. Unit retaining portions formed on a casing in which the pipe line is formed, the unit retaining portions being disposed adjacent to the pipe line.

Abstract: The lubricating oil composition of the invention comprises a lubricating oil base (A) and a copolymer (B) of ethylene and an &agr;-olefin of 3 to 20 carbon atoms. The copolymer (B) of ethylene and an &agr;-olefin of 3 to 20 carbon atoms is contained in the composition in an amount of 1 to 20% by weight and has the following properties: (1) the ethylene content (E) is in the range of 40 to 77% by weight, (2) the weight-average molecular weight (Mw) in terms of polystyrene, as measured by GPC, is in the range of 80,000 to 400,000, (3) Mw/Mn is not more than 2.4, (4) the melting point (Tm), as measured by DSC, is not higher than 60° C., (5) the ethylene content (E, % by weight) and the melting point (Tm, ° C.), as measured by DSC, satisfy the following relation (I): 3.31×E−186≧Tm  (I), and (6) the intensity ratio, S&agr;&bgr;/S&agr;&agr;, measured by 13C-NMR spectrum is not more than 0.5.

Abstract: A lead frame having a body with oppositely facing, substantially planar, first and second surfaces respectively facing in first and second directions and residing in first and second substantially parallel reference planes. The body defines a support for a semiconductor chip and a plurality of leads. The support has a third surface facing in the first direction to which a semiconductor chip can be mounted, and a fourth surface facing in the second direction. At least a part of the fourth surface is spaced from the second reference plane towards the first reference plane.

Abstract: There is provided a cerium-based abrasive which enables formation of a highly accurate polished surface and has improved grindability. There is also provided a method of evaluating cerium-based abrasives in a relatively easy manner. In order to achieve the above objects, the cerium-based abrasive of this invention is a cerium-based abrasive containing 40% by weight or more of cerium oxide (on the basis of the total weight of rare earth oxides) which is characterized by further containing 0.5 to 10% by weight of fluorine per 100% by weight of the cerium-based abrasive, in terms of atomic weight, and polishing particles consisting of crystals with a lattice constant measured by an X-ray powder diffraction method ranging from 0.544 to 0.560 nm.

Abstract: Aqueous copolymerization of TFE and PAVE in the presence of a small amount of terpene enables the manufacture of a more uniform melt-fabricable copolymer with a narrower molecular weight distribution. The copolymer exhibits improved flex life.

Abstract: A photo-curable resin composition for sealing material, which is superior in the photo-curing performance and in the prompt curing property and is better in the adhesive property, in the resistance to moisture permeation and in the heat resistance, the photo-curable resin composition comprising (A) a compound having oxetane ring, (B) a photoinitiator for cationic polymerization and (C) a silane coupling agent, wherein the composition has a viscosity in the range from 0.01 to 300 Pa.s at 25° C.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a surface-treated copper foil capable of consistently attaining a percent loss of peel strength in resistance against hydrochloric acid degradation of 10% or less as measured on a copper pattern prepared from the copper foil and having a line width of 0.2 mm, by bringing out the maximum effect of the silane coupling agent employed in brass-plated anti-corrosive copper foil. The Another object is to impart excellent moisture resistance to the surface-treated copper foil.

Abstract: The present deodorizing substance is obtained by treating a raw material selected from sugar cane juice and sugar cane-derived molasses by column chromatography, and characterized in that the substance is a fraction obtained by passing the aforesaid raw material through a column packed with a synthetic adsorbent as a fixed carrier and eluting ingredients adsorbed on said synthetic adsorbent with a solvent selected from water, methanol, ethanol and a mixture thereof. The present deodorizing substance is inexpensive and has high safety. It may be used widely in foods and environmental protection fields.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is surface-modified nickel fine powder in which a precursor of barium titanate having a perovskite structure and consisting of a reaction product of a soluble titanium-containing compound and a soluble barium-containing compound is adhered to the surface of individual nickel fine particles, wherein the fine powder shows X-ray diffraction peaks of nickel and is free of any peak of barium titanate having a perovskite structure in the X-ray diffraction pattern determined by the X-ray diffraction method, but the fine powder shows X-ray diffraction peaks of both nickel and barium titanate having a perovskite structure in the X-ray diffraction pattern after the fine powder is subjected to a heat-treatment at a temperature of not less than 400° C.

Abstract: An olefin polymer production method is provided by which olefin polymers can be obtained at high polymerization activity under the conditions of reduced hydrogen concentration. Silyl-terminated olefin polymers may be obtained by this method. The olefin is polymerized using a catalyst of a transition metal compound (A) of Groups 3 to 10 of the periodic table, at least one compound (B) selected from organoaluminum oxycompounds (B-1), compounds (B-2) that react with the abovementioned compound (A) to form an ion pair, and organoaluminum compounds (B-3), under the coexistence of an organosilicon compound (C) or dialkylzinc compound (D) and in the presence or absence of hydrogen (E).

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a new catalyst for steam reforming of methanol which can provide both sufficient catalyst activity and durability and additionally an efficient method for producing hydrogen with the catalyst, and for that purpose there is provided a catalyst for steam reforming of methanol, characterized by comprising copper and zinc, and palladium and/or platinum, and in that an atomic ratio of copper to palladium and/or platinum is 0.5 to 10 and an atomic ratio of zinc to copper is 0.1 to 10, and a method for producing hydrogen, characterized in that methanol is subjected to steam reforming in the presence of the catalyst.

Abstract: A toner additive comprising a polymer of at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of vinyltoluene, &agr;-methyl styrene and isopropenyl toluene, which has a ring and ball softening point of 130-170° C., or a copolymer of styrene and at least one kind of monomer selected from the above group which has a ring and ball softening point of 110-170° C. By adding such toner additive to a toner, an electrostatic image developing toner which has excellent pulverizability in the pulverizing process and does not fuse to equipment can be obtained. In addition, such toner additive does not affect the fundamental performances of a toner such as electrostatic performance, fixing performance, color, etc. Therefore, an electrostatic image developing toner and electrostatic image developer capable of producing a high quality image can be obtained at a low cost.

Abstract: A method for producing an electrically conducting melt-processible fluoropolymer comprising pulverizing a composition of (a) carbon aggregate and (b) coagulum particles of aqueous dispersion polymerized melt-processible fluoropolymer, coating the coagulum particle with the disintegrated particles of carbon black. The preferred composition comprises a structured carbon black such as acetylene black and a melt processible fluoropolymer wherein said melt processible fluoropolymer has two crystallization peaks in a DSC cooling curve when allowed to crystallize from a temperature of not less than its melting point at a cooling rate of 12° C./min; and the ratio of the crystallization peak heights (high temperature side peak/low temperature side peak) is 0.65 or greater; and/or the ratio of the high temperature side crystallization peak area to the total area of the crystallization peaks [high temperature side peak area/(high temperature side peak area+low temperature side peak area)] is 0.

Abstract: The invention is a novel developer composition which comprises one or more phenol derivative of sulfonamide structure represented by the formula (1) and one or more constituents selected from a polyvalent metal compound, antioxidant and reducing agent and provides dispersion having excellent preservation stability on atomization in water. The heat sensitive recording material comprising the developer composition has high color density in developed image and is also excellent in whiteness degree before recording. wherein X1 is a hydrogen or halogen atom, an alkyl, alkoxy or hydroxyl group, Z1 is a hydrogen atom or alkyl group, and R1 is an unsubstituted or substituted alkyl or aryl group.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a polyester resin composition superior in the impact resistance, especially low-temperature impact resistance, and in the stiffness as well as in the fracture toughness can be obtained. The polyester resin composition according to the present invention is a composition which comprises, per 100 parts by weight of a polyester resin (A), 5-200 parts by weight of a graft-modified ethylene/&agr;-olefin random copolymer (B) obtained by grafting onto an ethylene/&agr;-olefin random copolymer (B-1) composed of ethylene unit and of an &agr;-olefin unit of 6-20 carbon atoms an unsaturated carboxylic acid or its derivative (B-2), wherein the grafting amount of the unsaturated carboxylic acid or its derivative (B-2) is 0.01-10% by weight and wherein the said ethylene/&agr;-olefin random copolymer (B-1) before being graft-modified has (a) a content of the &agr;-olefin unit of 6-20 carbon atoms of 6-25 mole % and (b) a melt flow rate (ASTM D 1238, 190° C., 2.16 kg load) of 0.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a surface-treated copper foil capable of consistently attaining a percent loss in peel strength against hydrochloric acid degradation of 10% or less as measured on a copper pattern prepared from the copper foil and having a line width of 0.2 mm, by bringing out the maximum effect of the silane coupling agent employed in zinc-plated or zinc-alloy-plated anti-corrosive copper foil. Another object is to impart excellent moisture resistance, heat resistance, and long-term storage stability to the surface-treated copper foil.