Abstract: A method for recovering a valuable metal including the steps of: recovering valuables from scraps containing the valuable metal; and removing at least part of carbon contained in the recovered valuables by heating the valuables in a non-oxidizable atmosphere, and a method for recovering a valuable metal including the steps of: thermally treating a melted mixture including the valuable metal and slag with a flux component to separate the valuable metal in a liquid phase from the slag in another liquid phase. In accordance with the present invention, the valuable metal in the scrap can be easily recovered.

Abstract: An anode material for lithium secondary battery, which comprises graphite particles and a crystalline carbon coating layer formed thereon, wherein each graphite particle has a bent laminate structure inside, is produced by grinding a graphite of 5 mm or less in average particle diameter using an impact grinder to produce graphite particles of 100 &mgr;m or less in average particle diameter having a bent laminate structure inside each particle and then subjecting the graphite particles to chemical vapor deposition in a fluidized bed type reaction furnace to form a crystalline carbon coating layer on the graphite particles.

Abstract: The present invention is aimed at providing a toner binder for electrophotography that is excellent in the fixing property, offset resistance, blocking property, grindability, durable developing property and the like to correspond to the high-speed movement of a copier. The purpose of the present invention could be achieved by a toner binder having the following features for electrophotography. That is, when the viscoelasticity of the toner binder is measured in the temperature range of 50 to 200 ° C. and at a heating rate of 2° C./min., the viscoelasticity curve in the temperature range of 100 to 200° C. showing the relationship between the storage modulus and temperature, in which curve the axis of ordinate is the logarithm (Pa) of storage modulus G′ and the axis of abscissa is temperature (° C.), has a concave in the temperature range of 140 to 180° C.

Abstract: This invention relates to printed circuit boards having improved fire resistance and improved environmental stability. The invention provides halogen-free fire retardant printed circuit boards incorporating potentially flammable polymers. Flame resistant thermoplastic layers prevent combustion of thermosetting polymers, as well as adding strength to the laminate, resulting in a less brittle thin core than the prior art. The flame resistant circuit board is cost efficient, environmentally safe and has excellent properties, including a decreased probability of shorting, good dielectric breakdown voltage, a smooth surface and good electrical/thermal performance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nickel powder characterized in that the rate of the nickel particles whose particle size is not less than 1.2 time the average particle size as determined by the observation with an SEM is not more than 5% of the total number of nickel particles, that the rate of nickel particles whose particle size is not more than 0.8 time the average particle size is not more than 5% of the total number of nickel particles and that the tap density of the nickel powder is not less than 2.5 g/cm3, as well as a conductive paste for use in making a multilayer ceramic capacitor. The nickel powder of the present invention has a narrow particle size distribution and an excellent packing ability in a conductive paste and is particularly suitably used for forming a thin and uniform inner electrode for a multilayer ceramic capacitor, without being accompanied by the formation of any crack and/or the generation of any delamination.

Abstract: This invention provides a convenient process for manufacturing 1,3-dialkyl-2-imidazolidinones in a direct one-step reaction from industrially available alkylene carbonate, N-alkylethanolamine or 1,2-diol, which can minimize forming solid materials and be readily conducted in an industrial large-scale production with a higher yield and less byproducts. The process is characterized in that alkylene carbonate, N-alkylethanolamine or 1,2-diol is reacted with monoalkylamine and carbon dioxide, alkylcarbamate alkylamine salt, and/or 1,3-dialkylurea, by heating them at 50° C. or higher in a reactor whose area in contact with at least part of the reactants and/or products is made of a metal comprising titanium or zirconium and/or an oxide thereof or inorganic glass.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a copper clad laminate with a copper-plated circuit layer, and a method for manufacturing a printed wiring board that excels the conventional ones in the aspect ratio of a circuit pattern when processed to a printed wiring board comprising a fine-pitch circuit. The object of the present invention is achieved by manufacturing a printed wiring board with the use of a copper clad laminate with a copper-plated circuit layer characterized by a copper-plated circuit layer and an outer-layer copper foil layer that satisfied the relationship in a case where a specific etchant is used, the R v value (Vsc/Vsp), which is the ratio of the dissolution rate (Vsp) of deposited copper that constitutes said copper-plated circuit layer to the dissolution rate (Vsc) of copper that constitutes said outer-layer copper foil layer, is 1.0 or more.

Abstract: A multilayer film for packaging which is superior in, such as extensible elesticity, ability for adhering onto various surfaces, transparency, clear cutting perforamance, heat-sealability, resistance to fogging, resistance to break-through and ability for restoring from finger pressing and which comprises outer layers made of the outer layer resin composition (I) given below and an inner layer made of an inner layer resin composition composed of a higher melting component (III) and a softening component (IV) interposed between the outer layers, wherein the resin composition (I) comprises 59.5-99.5% by weight of (A) an ethylene/&agr;-olefin copolymer component, which is composed of at least one copolymer of ethylene and an &agr;-olefin having 3-20 carbon atoms and which has a melt flow rate (MFR) of 0.1-10 g/10 min. and a density of 0.850 g/cm3-0.910 g/cm3; 0-40% by weight of (B) a high-pressure process low density poly-ethylene having a density of 0.915-0.930 g/cm3, and 0.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of recovering a polyamine compound and/or a polyol compound useful for starting materials of polyurethane resin in an industrially advantageous manner by first dissolving the polyurethane resin such as polyurethane foams discharged in a large amount as industrial wastes in a solubilizing agent containing a polyamine compound, a low molecular glycol or an amino alcohol, hydrolyzing the resulting solution with liquid water at 200 to 320° C., then recovering the polyamino compound and/or polyol compound thus formed.

Abstract: Provided is a process which permits, upon preparation of chlorine and a caustic alkali by electrolyzing an aqueous alkali chloride solution in an ion-exchange-membrane-method alkali chloride electrolytic cell equipped with a gas diffusion cathode, decrease of an excess ratio of an oxygen containing gas to be fed newly to the gas diffusion cathode and facilitates temperature control of the electrolytic cell. A process for electrolyzing an alkali chloride comprising: introducing saline water into an anode chamber of an ion-exchange-membrane-method alkali chloride electrolytic cell equipped with a gas diffusion cathode; and introducing an oxygen-containing gas into a gas chamber of a gas diffusion cathode, to thereby obtain chlorine in the anode chamber and an aqueous caustic alkali solution in the cathode chamber.

Abstract: In a surface-emitting laser device, an Al0.16Ga0.84As cladding layer, a GaAs optical waveguide layer, an Al0.30Ga0.70As carrier block layer, a GaAs side barrier layer, an InGaAs active layer, a GaAs side barrier layer, an Al0.30Ga0.70As carrier block layer, a GaAs optical waveguide layer, an Al0.16Ga0.84As cladding layer, an etching stop layer, and a contact layer are formed on a GaAs substrate in this sequence. A inclined facet which functions as a reflecting mirror is formed on a resonator optical axis between a horizontal resonator facet and a vertical resonator facet. With the constitution, thermal saturation and facet degradation can be suppressed as much as possible and high optical output power can be obtained.

Abstract: The novel polyester (first polyester [A]) of the invention comprises dicarboxylic acid constituent units derived from at least one dicarboxylic acid selected from terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid and naphthalenedicarboxylic acid and diol constituent units derived from diols comprising ethylene glycol and a polyalkylene glycol having a C2-C10 alkylene chain, wherein the proportion of constituent units derived from the polyalkylene glycol is 0.001 to 10% by weight based on the diol constituent units. The polyester [A] has an excellent crystallization rate, is suitably used, singly or as compositions together with another polyester [B] and/or other polymers, for production of molded products such as films, sheets, laminates, preforms and bottles, which have excellent thermal, gas barrier and transparency properties.

Abstract: There are herein disclosed 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 sodium-based dechlorinating agent g is added to a flue gas G6; hydrogen chloride contained in this flue gas is removed as residue of dechlorination; the thus removed residue of dechlorination is dissolved by adding water i; water-insoluble constituents k are separated from the resulting aqueous solution j; and after adjusting pH of the aqueous solution 1 remaining after separation of the water-insoluble constituents k, mercury, dioxin and the like are removed and discharged. The sodium-based dechlorinating agent g is mixed with a hydrophilic anti-caking agent, with an angle of repose of 40° or more, a dispersibility of less than 50, and a floodability index value of less than 90. A mean particle diameter of sodium hydrogencarbonate is set within a range of from 2 &mgr;m to 30 &mgr;m. The hydrophilic anti-caking agent comprises silica, and is contained in an amount of 0.1 mass % or more in the sodium-based dechlorinating agent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dyed molded article obtained by dyeing a polycarbonate molded article having repeating structural units represented by the following formula (1-a): Since the polycarbonate molded article is dyed easily, the present invention has made it possible to provide a lens made of a dyed polycarbonate.

Abstract: To provide a copper foil roll, which is a final product form of copper foil, in which wrinkles generating in the vicinity of a core tube of the copper foil roll are restrained to the utmost, and a better winding balance is provided. A method for winding copper foil on a core tube, in which the copper foil is spliced to a core tube with use of a pressure-sensitive double-sided adhesive coated tape with releasing paper and is wound into a roll form.

Abstract: An optical recording medium comprising at least a recording layer and a reflecting layer on a substrate wherein the recording layer contains at least one dipyrromethene-metal chelate compound represented by general formula (1): wherein R1 to R6 independently represent hydrogen, halogen, nitro, cyano, hydroxyl, amino, carboxyl, sulfo, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl with up to 20 carbon atoms, alkoxy, alkylthio, aryloxy, arylthio, alkenyl, acyl, alkoxycarbonyl, carbamoyl, acylamino, aralkyl, aryl or heteroaryl; R7 represents halogen, aryl, heteroaryl, alkoxy, alkylthio, aryloxy or arylthio; A represents substituted or unsubstituted aromatic or heterocyclic ring with up to 20 carbon atoms; L1 represents substituted or unsubstituted bivalent residue forming a ring together with carbon atoms to which it attaches and optionally containing a hetero atom; and M1 represents transition metal element.

Abstract: A process for producing an aromatic hydroxy compound having hydroxyl group at the para-position with respect to a hydroxy or an alkoxy substituent group present in the aromatic ring at a high yield and at a high selectivity, using a novel and useful hydroxylation catalyst which can afford to introduce hydroxyl group directly into aromatic ring at the para-position with respect to a hydroxy or an alkoxy substituent group, by reacting at least one compound selected from the group consisting of phenols, alkoxybenzenes and derivatives of them with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of the catalyst, wherein the hydroxylation catalyst is constituted of an oleophilized crystalline titanosilicate.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrodeposited copper foil which solves problems of electrodeposited-copper-clad laminates to which the foil has been incorporated, such as bow, twist, and poor dimensional stability, and a method of inspecting an electrodeposited copper foil so as to assure the quality of the foil. In the invention, there is employed an electrodeposited copper foil which recrystallizes by heating at low temperature during production of a copper-clad laminate employing an electrodeposited copper foil and which exhibits an elongation as high as 18% or more in an atmosphere of 180° C., wherein the maximum rate of decrease in maximum tensile strength falls within the aging time ranging from 5 to 10 minutes in a process in which tensile strength decreases as time elapses during aging in an atmosphere at 170° C., and the change in tensile strength in a knick portion shown in a {tensile strength} vs.

Abstract: The invention relates to the manufacture of printed circuit boards having improved interlayer adhesion. More particularly, the present invention pertains to adhesiveless printed circuit boards having excellent thermal performance and useful for producing high-density circuits. A metal foil is laminated to an etched surface of a polyimide substrate having a polyimide film thereon. Etching the substrate surface allows for strong adhesion of a pure polyimide film to the substrate.