Abstract: A vehicle door latch device has an improved door-holding force. The device comprises a latch accommodated in a housing which has a parallel plate parallel to a rotational plane of the latch and an approach path formed on the parallel plate for receiving the striker. The parallel plate has a first plate and a second plate partitioned with the approach path as a boundary. The latch is attached to the first plate. The second plate has a raised portion projecting toward the latch, and the latch has a hook which is engageably opposed to the raised portion when the door is in a door-closed position.

Abstract: Polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene is carried out in an aqueous medium to manufacture a type of modified polytetrafluoroethylene fine powder, containing perfluorobutyl ethylene and hexafluoropropylene, with excellent extrusion property under a high reduction ration and with high thermal stability.

Abstract: The first smectic liquid crystal composition of the invention has a voltage gradation parameter L of less than 0.6, said parameter being defined by the equation L=S.sub.H /S.sub.O with the proviso that: a liquid crystal cell filled with a liquid crystal composition is placed between a pair of polarizing plates arranged in the crossed Nicols state; a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal cell to form a hysteresis curve showing a correlation between the voltage and a transmittance; and a tangent line I.sub.R of the hysteresis curve within a region wherein the transmittance steeply increases intersects a tangent line I.sub.F of the hysteresis curve within a region which is adjacent to the voltage-steep increase region and which is on the higher-voltage side at an intersection point P. In the above equation, S.sub.

Abstract: Polymer alloy comprising a) one or more cycloolefin copolymers and b) one or more types of core/shell particles having a diameter of 0.01 to 0.7 micrometer.

Abstract: A method of producing an inflation film which includes the steps of melting an ultra-high-molecular-weight polyolefin in an extruder, extruding the molten polyolefin from a screw die, and blowing a gas into a molten tubular film formed by extrusion. An apparatus for producing an inflation film which includes an extruder provided with a first screw, and a screw die having an L/D of at least 5 and is provided at the end of the extruder, wherein the screw die includes a second screw which rotates independently of the first screw, a mandrel coupled to the end of the second screw and rotates together with the second screw, an outer tube die in which the mandrel is inserted, and a gas passage extending in the second screw and in the mandrel. An inflation film is composed of an ultra-high-molecular-weight polyolefin having a tensile strength at break of greater than 1660 kg/cm.sup.2 in a machine direction and greater than 1600 kg/cm.sup.2 in a transverse direction, an impact strength of greater than 9500 kg.

Abstract: A thermosetting powder paint composition is disclosed which can realize simultaneous manifestation of I) excellent stability before film forming (in storage), II) excellent low temperature melting property/low temperature curing property in forming a film, and III) excellent film properties and physical properties after film forming;and which comprises (A) a copolymer component which is obtained by radical polymerization in a reaction system containing (a-1) an ethylenically unsaturated monomer having a glycidyl group and a unsaturated double bond in the molecule, (a-2) styrene, and (a-3) the other monomer in a specific condition, (B) a curing agent component which is a linear acid anhydride of an aliphatic divalent carboxylic acid having a specific structure, and (C) a curing catalyst component having a specific structure.

Abstract: A polyamide resin composition superior in the shock resitance, especially low temperature shock resistence, in the rigidity and in the water absorption resistance, which comprises(A) 98-50 % by weight of a polyamide,(B) 1-40 % by weight of a modified ethylene/.alpha.-olefin copolymer having an MFR (190.degree. C.) of 0.05-50 g/10 min., obtained by a graft-copolymerization of 100 parts by weight of an ethylene/.alpha.-olefin copolymer (B-1) having an ethylene content of 40-93 mole % and a density of lower than 0.900 g/cm.sup.3, with, grafted thereon, 0.01-5 parts by weight of an unsaturated dicarboxylic acid or its derivative (B-2), and(C) 1-40 % by weight of at least one ethylenic copolymer selected from the group consisting of an ethylene/.alpha.-olefin copolymer (C-1) having an .alpha.-olefin content of 10 mole % or less, an Mw/Mn of 2.5 or lower and an MFR (190.degree. C.) of 0.05-50 g/10 min. and a modified ethylen/.alpha.

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. In the olefin polymerization process of the invention using this catalyst or a catalyst formed from a Group IVB transition metal compound represented by the following formula (II) and an organoaluminum oxy-compound or a compound which reacts with the transition metal compound to form an ion pair, an olefin (co)polymer having a high molecular weight can be obtained with high polymerization activities, and besides an olefin copolymer having a high comonomer content can be obtained even if a comonomer is used in a small amount. ##STR1## wherein, M is a transition metal of Group IVB, at least one of R.sup.1 is an aryl group and the remainder is hydrogen or the like, R.sup.2 is hydrogen, an alkyl group or the like, R.sup.3 and R.sup.

Abstract: A process for producing lithium manganate as a cathode active material for lithium secondary batteries comprising firing raw materials at a rate of temperature rise and/or temperature drop of 150.degree. C./min or more.

Abstract: A bottle molded from a polyester composition comprising 97 to 99.99% by weight of a polyester and 3 to 0.01% by weight of a polyester elastomer, which bottle exhibits dimensional change ratios of not greater than 5% measured in the height direction of the bottle and also not greater than 5% measured in the wall part diameter direction of the bottle and has an overturning angle of at least 10.degree., when the bottle was subjected to a hot bath test in which the bottle is filled with a beverage containing 2.5 gas volume carbon dioxide at 23.degree. C., stoppered and immersed in sealed condition in a hot bath heated at 70.degree. C. Thus, the bottle retains self-standing property without deformation even after it is filled with a carbonated beverage and subjected to heat sterilization.

Abstract: A biodegradable aliphatic polyester elastomer which has rubber-like elasticity, hardness of 80 or less in accordance with ASTM D 676-58T, and elastic modulus from 1.times.10.sup.5 Pa to 1.times.10.sup.8 Pa at 25.degree. C., and decomposes with ease in the natural environment, under composting conditions or under hydrolysis conditions. The biodegradable aliphatic elastomer can be obtained by crosslinking aliphatic polyester containing aliphatic unsaturated polybasic acid as a polymer constituting ingredient and having a weight average molecular weight of 15,000 or more.

Abstract: Provided is an optical recording medium comprising at least a recording layer, a metal reflective layer, a protective layer and a printing layer laminated on a transparent substrate, wherein the printing layer is obtained by curing a UV-curing ink composition and said ink composition contains a compound which has a solubility parameter falling in the range of 7 to 10 and which takes no part in UV curing and does not react with other components contained therein.

Abstract: An ethylene/.alpha.-olefin copolymer obtained by copolymerizing ethylene with an .alpha.-olefin of 3 to 20 carbon atoms 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/.alpha.-olefin copolymer has high melt tension and high flowability. A graft modified ethylene/.alpha.-olefin copolymer obtained by graft polymerizing the above-mentioned ethylene/.alpha.-olefin copolymer with a polar monomer. An ethylene copolymer composition comprising the above-mentioned graft modified ethylene/.alpha.-olefin copolymer and polyolefin. The ethylene/.alpha.-olefin copolymer of the invention is excellent in moldability. From this copolymer, a film having high transparency and high mechanical strength can be produced. The graft modified ethylene/.alpha.-olefin copolymer of the invention is excellent in heat stability and moldability.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for producing an electrolytic copper foil for a printed wiring board by supplying current between a rotary cathode and an electrolytic anode in a copper electrolyte so as to electrodeposit copper on the surface of the rotary cathode, wherein an anode for high electric current is placed opposite to the electrodeposition starting surface of the rotary cathode in such a manner that a part of the anode is projected above a liquid level of the copper electrolyte, and the copper electrolyte existing between the anode for high electric current and the opposed rotary cathode surface is electrolyzed by providing a high electric current with a current density higher than that of the electrolytic anode, and an apparatus for producing an electrolytic copper foil for a printed wiring board having excellent properties.

Abstract: The electrically conductive, barium sulfate-containing composition consists of BaSO.sub.4 particles having a surface area of from 0.1 to 150 m.sup.2 /g. The BaSO.sub.4 particles each are provided with a SnO.sub.2 coating having a thickness of 2 to 80 nm and containing from 1 to 15% by weight of the Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3. The electrically conductive, barium sulfate-containing composition is made by a method including the steps of adding a first acidic solution containing 1 to 95% by weight SnCl.sub.4 and a basic solution to an aqueous dispersion from 50 to 800 g/l of BaSO.sub.4 to make a basic mixture having a pH from 9 to 15; then adding an acid to the basic mixture to form an acidic mixture having a pH from 4 to 1; then adding a second acid solution containing 0.5 to 60% by weight of SbCl.sub.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the production of an injection-expansion molded, thermoplastic resin product. The process comprises a gas dissolving step, a cooling step, a metering and injection step, and an expansion controlling step. Specifically, a thermoplastic resin is molten in a continuous plasticator (1), supercritical carbon dioxide and/or nitrogen is added as a blowing agent, and the blowing agent and the thermoplastic resin are formed into a mutually-dissolved state. The resultant molten resin composition is cooled within the plasticator while maintaining a pressure equal to or higher than a critical pressure of the blowing agent. The thus-cooled molten resin composition is metered by an injector (7) and is filled in a mold (8). An internal pressure of the mold is lowered beyond the critical pressure of the blowing agent to produce cell nuclei, whereby the cell diameter is controlled. The blowing agent is maintained in a supercritical state up to the metering and injection step.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a filter medium for molten metals which consists of a sintered body of a mixture comprising 100 parts by weight of at least one refractory grain selected from the group consisting of alumina particles and Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.MgO spinel crystal particles; and 5 to 25 parts by weight of an inorganic binder which comprises 60 to 90% by weight of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.MgO spinel crystal powder, 5 to 12% by weight of B.sub.2 O.sub.3, and not more than 30% by weight of at least one oxide selected from the group consisting of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, MgO and TiO.sub.2. The filter medium is used for filtering off solid impurities mixed in molten metals, in particular, molten aluminums.

Abstract: The improved process for producing phenol, acetone and .alpha.-methylstyrene in the cumene-phenol process comprising cumene hydroperoxide, cumene and dimethylphenylcarbinol in the presence of sulfuric acid has the steps of decomposing the cumene hydroperoxide in a back mixing reactor with the yield of .alpha.-methylstyrene as produced from dimethylphenylcarbinol being controlled and the step of forming .alpha.-methylstyrene in such a way that the reaction mixture produced in the first step is supplied into a plug-flow reactor after acetone is added to said reaction mixture. The process is capable of consistent production of phenol and .alpha.-methylstyrene in high yields under mild reaction conditions.

Abstract: An optical device includes a block of optical material. The block includes a first and second end face, and a portion of the first end face includes at least one convex arcuate portion.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser of this invention, having a structure of an element composed of: carrier block layers, formed bilaterally externally of an active layer in section which is formed in the vertical direction from the surface of the element, for reducing a light guiding function of the active layer; wave guide layers provided bilaterally externally of said carrier block layers and clad layers provided so that the wave guide layers are sandwiched in between the clad layers. This invention overcomes a dilemma inherent in the conventional weakly guiding laser and LOC structured laser in terms of designing the device for controlling a guided mode. The present invention also solves the problems in terms of attaining higher outputting and a low dispersion of the radiation beams and improving a beam profile.