Abstract: A ceramic filter for filtering molten metals includes aggregate particles consisting of fused alumina and/or sintered alumina, and a binder material, wherein the binder is present in an amount of 10 to 22 parts, by weight, per 100 parts of the aggregate particles. The binder material consists of 15 to 25%, by weight, of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, 35 to 52% of B.sub.2 O.sub.3, not less than 7% and less than 15% of Sio.sub.2, and the balance of MgO. The ceramic filter may be prepared by kneading 100 parts of aggregate particles consisting essentially of either or both of fused alumina and sintered alumina, 10 to 22 parts of the foregoing binder material, an appropriate amount of an organic binder and an appropriate amount of water; molding the resulting mixture; drying the molded mixture; and then firing the same at a temperature ranging from 1150 to 1300.degree. C.

Abstract: There are herein disclosed a method for preparing a modified resin which comprises thermal/reaction by the use of a norbornenyl group-containing compound typified by norbornenecarboguanamine or its derivative, a method for preparing an epoxy-modified resin which comprises the step of reacting the above-mentioned modified resin and an epoxide, a flame-retarding method, a thermal stabilization method, a compatibilizing method and a surface modification method which comprise utilizing the modified resin, as well as a coating resin composition and an adhesive resin composition containing the modified resin.According to the preparation methods of the present invention, the deterioration of a material scarcely occurs, and a functional group which is excellent in flame retardancy, thermal stability, compatibility and the like can be introduced to the resins.

Abstract: A waterproof material is disclosed herein which is obtainable by laminating many sheets of a photo-setting type fiber reinforced thermosetting resin composition comprising a resin composition containing a thermosetting resin, a photopolymerization initiator and a thickener, and a fiber reinforced material, or by laminating plural sheets of a synthetic polymer, and a waterproof application method using the waterproof material is also disclosed herein. According to the present invention, the waterproof layer can be formed on the surface of a civil engineering works or a building in a short time of about 30 minutes by a few steps without polluting a working environment. Furthermore, the waterproof layer, needless to say, has water resistance, weathering resistance, anticorrosion and substrate adhesion. In addition, it is further excellent in follow-up properties to cracks of the substrate, and walking on the waterproof layer is possible.

Abstract: The condensed water, as condensed by applying the VRC to a regeneration process, and the strong solution, as fed out of a regenerator, are employed as a heat source to preheat a weak solution so that the preheating amount of the weak solution is increased to improve the performance coefficient of a heat pump.

Abstract: A propylene polymer is excellent in rigidity, heat resistance, surface hardness, glossiness, transparency and impact resistance. A propylene copolymer (wherein the amount of monomer units derived from an .alpha.-olefin other than propylene is not more than 5% by mol) is excellent in transparency, rigidity, surface hardness, heat resistance, heat-sealing property, anti-blocking property, anti-bleedout property and impact strength. A propylene copolymer (wherein the amount of monomer units derived from an .alpha.-olefin other than propylene is not less than 5% by mol) is excellent in transparency, environmental aging property, and effective in improving heat-sealing property at low temperature and impact strength. A propylene elastomer is excellent in heat resistance, impact absorbing capacity, transparency, heat-sealing properties and anti-blocking properties.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a substituted amine represented by the general formula (IV):R.sup.2 NHOR.sup.3 (IV)(wherein R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group or a heteroatom-containing hydrocarbon group, and R.sup.3 represents a hydrocarbon group or a heteroatom-containing hydrocarbon group), which comprises the steps of:(b) reacting a hydroxamic acid represented by the general formula (II):R.sup.1 CONHOH (II)(wherein R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group) in the presence of a base with a reaction reagent capable of introducing a hydrocarbon or a heteroatom-containing hydrocarbon group to an oxygen atom and/or a nitrogen atom to form a substituted hydroxamic acid represented by the general formula (III): ##STR1## (wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.

Abstract: A toner for developing electrostatic latent images containing a binder resin, a colorant, and a lubricant, wherein the lubricant comprises a modified polyethylene wax which is obtained by homopolymerizing ethylene or copolymerizing ethylene and an .alpha.-olefin having 3 to 10 carbon atoms in the presence of a metallocene catalyst and modifying the resulting homo- or copolymer by grafting thereto a styrene monomer and/or an unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer, the lubricant having a hexane extraction of not more than 65% by weight. The toner exhibits release properties at a lower temperature and thereby has satisfactory anti-offset properties without impairing powder fluidity and anti-blocking properties. It provides a toner image resistant against scratches by a peeling claw of a fixing roll part and against rub-of.

Abstract: A piezoelectric transformer has a piezoelectric substrate having first and second main faces. The substrate has first and second primary-side regions and a secondary-side region in its longitudinal direction in this order. The first region has a length of a half wavelength of stress distribution at the time of resonance in the longitudinal direction and has either positive or negative stress. The second region has a length of a half wavelength or less of the stress distribution and has either positive or negative stress. First and second electrode are respectively disposed on the first and second main faces in the first primary-side region, and the substrate between the first and second electrodes is polarized in the thicknesswise direction. Third and fourth electrodes are respectively disposed on the first and second main faces in the second primary-side region, and the substrate between the third and fourth electrodes is polarized in the thicknesswise direction.

Abstract: An anti-viral agent comprising as the effective component, an alkali extract of mangroves, Momordica charantia, and Aspalathus linearis belonging to Leguminosae family. The effective component is essentially consists of acidic polysaccharides and shows an antioxidant activity and free radical (reactive oxygen species)-scavenging activity.The agent is effective against retrovirus such as human immuno deficiency virus (HIV), with no side-effects on human and/or animals.

Abstract: A cable anchoring apparatus for detachably attaching a wire cable to a movable member comprises a cable head fixed to the wire cable, a substantially semi-circular-shaped hook formed in the movable member and engageable with the cable head, and a retainer fixed on the movable member. The hook has a first slit and a space for accommodating the cable head. The retainer has an opening overlapped with the space, a notch for communicating the opening to an outside of the retainer, a pair of claws with a sufficient elasticity, and a second slit formed between the claws and communicated with the notch. The gap of the notch and the gap of the second slit are substantially equal to the gap of the first slit. A path is formed between an edge of the opening and the claws and is narrower than the diameter of the cable head. The claws extend distantly from the space.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ionically conductive polymeric gel electrolyte for batteries having high ionic conductivity and sufficiently high solid strength. The invention has an object to provide a solid battery which prevents internal short-circuiting even if no diaphragm is used and which has high reliability, by using the ionically conductive polymeric gel electrolyte. Disclosed is an ionically conductive polymeric gel electrolyte, containing at least a polymer matrix, a non-aqueous electrolytic solution and an electrolytic salt, wherein at least one kind of a halogen-substituted carbonic ester is contained as a solvent of the non-aqueous electrolytic solution. Also disclosed is a solid battery having the ionically conductive polymeric gel electrolyte as a constituent.

Abstract: A process for producing an aromatic dicarboxylic acid by simple operations using a simple apparatus is disclosed, which enables to effect separation and washing of the product crystals efficiently without suffering from clogging of the apparatus, while permitting recovery of the reaction solvent and catalyst with permission of an efficient replacement of the solvent.

Abstract: It is contemplated to provide an industrially adapted method for producing a dimerization product of acrylonitrile, which method is capable of producing a straight chain dimer of acrylonitrile efficiently at a high yield in a simple manner using a highly active catalyst exhibiting superior stability, without suffering from occurrence of difficulty removable by-products. In the method according to the present invention, acrylonitrile is subjected to dimerization in the presence of a ruthenium complex composed of a central atom of ruthenium and ligands including cyclopentadiene or its derivative coordinating thereto. The dimerization product, such as adiponitrile, 1,4-dicyanobutene or 1,4-dicyanobutadiene, is useful as an intermediate for producing hexamethylenediamine and adipic acid, both serving for the starting material of nylon 66, or as an intermediate for producing, for example, an antirusting agent and a vulcanization accelerator for rubbers.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the concentration of an aqueous acrylamide solution prepared by hydration of acrylonitrile or an aqueous acrylamide solution substantially free of acrylonitrile. The method makes use of a concentration apparatus at least a part of whose solution-contacting section is made of a copper-containing material. The concentration is conducted while introducing an oxygen-containing gas into the apparatus. Use of this method can prevent formation, adhering, accumulation and the like of popcorn polymers inside the concentration apparatus upon concentration of the aqueous acrylamide solution, and can also produce high-quality acrylamide.

Abstract: A 4-methyl-1-pentene polymer composition having excellent heat resistance, releasability, gas permeability, impact resistance and other mechanical properties as well as heat sealability, prepared by melt mixing 40 to 97.5 parts by weight of a 4-methyl-1-pentene polymer (A), 2.5 to 60 parts by weight of a 1-butene polymer (B), and 1 to 100 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the total of (A) and (B), of a propylene polymer (C).

Abstract: A process for removing a diol from a cyclic carbonic acid ester containing the diol as an impurity, which comprises bringing a cyclic carbonic acid ester containing a diol as an impurity into contact with a synthetic zeolite in the presence of a chain carbonic acid ester. According to this process, there can be obtained a mixture of a cyclic carbonic acid ester and a chain carbonic acid ester having a very small content of diol, which is suitable as a solvent for electrolytic solution of a condenser, cell or battery.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for preparing an ethylene-.alpha.-olefin-nonconjugated polyene random copolymer comprising random copolymerizing (a) ethylene, (b) an .alpha.-olefin of 3 or more carbon atoms and (c) a nonconjugated polyene in the presence of a metallocene catalyst containing a specific metallocene compound. The ethylene-.alpha.-olefin-nonconjugated polyene random copolymer prepared by the process has such properties that (i) the copolymer contains units derived from ethylene (a) and units derived from the .alpha.-olefin of 3 or more carbon atoms (b) in a molar ratio of 40/60 to 95/5 ?(a)/(b)!, (ii) the iodine value is 1 to 50, (iii) the intrinsic viscosity (.eta.) is more than 0.1 dl/g and less than 8.0 10 dl/g, (iv) the intensity ratio D of T.alpha..beta. to T.alpha..alpha. in the .sup.13 C-NMR spectrum, T.alpha..beta./T.alpha..alpha., is not more than 0.5, (v) the B value is 1.00 to 1.50, (vi) the glass transition temperature Tg is not higher than -50.degree. C., and (vii) the ratio g.eta.

Abstract: An LCD which having a high response speed, a wide viewing angle and a high contrast and capable of displaying high-quality gray-scale images at normal temperature. The LCD comprises an array substrate, a counter substrate opposing the array substrate, pixel electrodes arranged on the the array substrate in rows and columns, each connected to an active element, a first orientation film provided on the pixel electrodes, a counter electrode opposing the pixel electrodes, arranged on the counter substrate, a second orientation film provided on the counter electrode, rubbed in a direction slightly inclined to a direction in which the first orientation has been rubbed, and a layer of antiferroelectric liquid crystal sealed in a gap between the first and second orientation films, the antiferroelectric liquid crystal being a smectic liquid crystal which contains an antiferroelectric liquid crystal compound represented by R.sup.1 (O)--Zm--Y--E--COO--C*HX--R.sup.4.

Abstract: An initially opening device for a vehicle sliding door comprises an output member rotated by a motor, a winch lever rotated from a stand-by position to an initial-open position, a connecting lever for connecting the output member to the winch lever, a press member provided in the sliding door and connected to the winch lever, a ratchet lever connected to a latch unit provided at rear portion of the door for engaging a striker fixed to a vehicle body, and a contact surface formed in the ratchet lever and brought into contact with the winch lever for rotating the ratchet lever when the winch lever is rotated toward the initial-open position. The press member is brought into contact with the vehicle body to move the rear portion of the sliding door in an initial opening direction when the winch lever is displaced from the stand-by position to the initial-open position.

Abstract: In a method for thermally reforming an emulsion, comprising removing water and an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt contained in an oil-in-water type emulsion of a tarry material or a heavy fuel oil (e.g., ORINOCO BITUMEN), sulfuric acid is added, in an amount of preferably 0.05% to 1.0% by weight based on the emulsion, to the emulsion, the mixture is allowed to stand at such a temperature as to give a difference in density between separated water and heavy fuel oil, preferably for 10 min or more, to permit oil-water separation, and the separated oil phase is withdrawn. When the tarry material is ORINOCO BITUMEN, an emulsion made of ORINOCO BITUMEN is thermochemically reformed by adding 0.1 to 0.4% by weight of sulfuric acid to ORINOCO BITUMEN, allowing the mixture to stand under pressure at a temperature of 170.degree. to 200.degree. C.