Abstract: A random 1-butene/ethylene copolymer comprising 1-butene and ethylene, said copolymer having the following characteristics (A) to (I):(A) it comprises 50 to 99 mole % of the 1-butene component and 1 to 50 mole % of the ethylene component,(B) it has an intrinsic viscosity [.eta.], measured in decalin at 135.degree. C., of from 0.5 to 6 dl/g,(C) it has a melting point [Tm], measured by a differential scanning calorimeter, of from 30.degree. to 130.degree. C.,(D) it has a crystallinity, measured by X-ray diffractometry, of from 1 to 60%,(E) the amount [W.sub.1 in % by weight] of that portion of it which is soluble in boiling methyl acetate is not more than 2%, and(F) the amount [W.sub.2 in % by weight] of that portion of it which is soluble in a 1:1 by volume mixture of acetone and n-decane at 10.degree. C. is less than 5.times.[.eta.].sup.-1.2.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing .alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester or its hydrochloride. .alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester or its hydrochloride is prepared by a process comprising: condensating N-formyl-L-aspartic acid anhydride and L-phenylalanine in water or in water containing methanol at a pH in the range of 7-12 to form N-formyl-.alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine; acidifying the reaction mixture successively with hydrochloric acid in the presence of methanol without isolating the N-formyl-.alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine so as to bring it into contact with hydrochloric acid in the presence of methanol for reaction and thereby to deposit .alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester hydrochloride; separating the .alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester hydrochloride; and neutralizing said hydrochloride as required.

Abstract: A triphenol type compound represented by the following formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 independently represent hydrogen, a halogen, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl group or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkoxy group.The triphenol type compound can be used, as a branching agent for the production of a polycarbonate comprising (A) a carbonic acid component unit, (B) a divalent phenol component unit, and (C) a tripenol type compound component unit derived from the above-mentioned triphenol type compound. The triphenol type compound unit (C) is used in an amount of 0.01 to 10 mole %, based on the divalent phenol component unit (B) and the intrinsic viscosity [.eta.], determined at 25.degree. C. in methylene chloride, of the polycarbonate is 0.4 to 1.0 dl/g and the glass transition temperature (Tg), determined by a differential scanning type calorimeter is 150.degree. C. to 300.degree. C.

Abstract: Disclosed is a glass-ceramic product having a chemical composition, as expressed in terms of oxides with the exception of F, in the weight range of 35 to 60% SiO.sub.2, 10 to 20% Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, 12 to 25% MgO, 5 to 15% K.sub.2 O and 4 to 15% F, containing no B.sub.2 O.sub.3, and containing 40 to 70% by weight of fluorophlogopite microcrystals. This glass-ceramic product has a flexural strength of not less than 1500 kgf/cm.sup.2, a heat resistance of about 1100.degree. C., excellent dielectric properties and good machinability, and is a material capable of extending the range of use of high performance ceramics.

Abstract: An essentially non-oriented surface roughened film or sheet comprising a homopolymer or copolymer of 4-methyl-1-pentene having the surface roughness of 0.5 to 10 micrometers; a process for production of the above-mentioned surface roughened film or sheet of claim 1 comprising the following steps (1) preparing a molten composition comprising a homopolymer or copolymer of 4-methyl-1-pentene, (2) extruding the molten composition to form a film or sheet, and (3) placing the film or sheet in contact with a roller having a roughened surface or passing the film or sheet through a pair of rollers, at least one of which has a roughened surface; and the use of the above-mentioned surface roughened film or sheet for the manufacture of single-sided metal clad laminates.

Abstract: According to the present invention, hydrazine or a hydrazine compound is added to an acidic solution containing silver and palladium as ions to thereby reduce-separate silver-palladium alloy fine powders having an average particle diameter of 0.01-1.0 micron. The powders may be heat-treated at 100.degree.-500.degree. C. in an inert atmosphere or vacuum to thereby obtain silver-palladium alloy fine powders that have an average particle diameter of 0.01-1.0 micron and are usable in the manufacture of ceramic capacitors.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a high-refractivity plastic lens resin obtained by polymerizing under heat at least one polyisocyanate (I): ##STR1## wherein X means a hydrogen, chlorine or bromine atom or a methyl or ethyl group, Z is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, a stands for an integer of 1-4, b is an integer of 2-4, and a+b is not greater than 6 (a+b.ltoreq.6), with at least one polythiol (II): ##STR2## wherein R means a methyl, ethyl, chloromethyl or bromomethyl group, m stands for an integer of 0-2 and n is 4-m and/or at least one polythiol (III): ##STR3## wherein X means a hydrogen, chlorine or bromine atom or a methyl or ethyl group, Y denotes an oxygen or sulfur atom, r stands for 0 or 1, s is an integer of 0-2, p is an integer of 2-4, q is an integer of 1-4 and p+q is not greater than 6 (p+q.ltoreq.6), in such amounts that the --NCO/--SH molar ratio falls within 0.5-3.0, as well as a lens made of the above resin.

Abstract: A delivering equipment with heat insulating function according to the present invention is utilized in delivering food and so on and comprises an insulated receptacle made of insulating material for storage of food and the like, a concave formed in the bottom portion within the receptacle for storage of regenerating means, and regenerating means disposed in the concave. The regenerating means is preferably comprised of a transparent case packed with regenerating material which contains higher fatty acid as a main content. The regenerating material may be of 100% of behenic acid and preferably contain 10% of cured castor oil so as to depress the solidification point of the regenerating material. Further, a delivering equipment with heat insulating function according to the present invention comprises an insulating receptacle for storage of food and so on and a heat panel with heat pipes disposed within the receptacle so as to equalize the temperature distribution in the receptacle.

Abstract: When a hydrophobic thermoplastic resin such as an olefin resin and a water-insoluble or non-water-swelling polymer containing a carboxylic acid salt group are melt-kneaded in the presence of water, phase inversion of forming a dispersion comprising water as the dispersion medium phase and resin particles as the dispersed phase is caused even if the amount of water is very small. If an anionic surfactant, optionally together with a solvent or oil, is made present in the composition to be melt-kneaded, the size of dispersed particles can be greatly reduced in the formed aqueous dispersion even if a resin having a very high molecular weight or a high melt viscosity is used.

Abstract: In a shield machine, there are provided an electromagnetic wave transmitting and receiving unit mounted on the top of the shield machine for radiating electromagnetic impulse wave toward an underground and for receiving the electromagnetic wave reflected from the underground, and a position sensor for collecting an information regarding the position of the electromagnetic wave transmitter and receiver unit. Data processing unit is provided for processing the signals from transmitter/receiver and the position sensor and sent through a transmission line. The data processing unit continuously displays the condition of the underground at the cutting face.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are thiocyanopyrimidine derivatives represented by the following general formula: ##STR1## wherein R means an alkyl group having 1-3 carbon atoms and X denotes a halogen atom, their production process, and agricultural and horticultural fungicides containing same as active ingredients. The compounds of this invention can provide ideal agricultural and horticultural fungicides, since they exhibit outstanding fungicidal activities against plant pathogens led by late blight and downy mildew, their toxicity to animals are low and they are not phytotoxic.The compounds of this invention can be obtained by reacting pyrimidine derivatives represented by the following general formula: ##STR2## with thiocyanates while using an organic acid as a solvent. Good results can be obtained particularly when formic acid is used as a solvent.

Abstract: Chlorine is produced by oxidizing byproduced hydrogen chloride. An offgas containing hydrogen chloride as a byproduct is reacted with oxygen at 300.degree.-500.degree. C. in the presence of a catalyst which contains chromic oxide (Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3) as a principal component. The resulting gas is cooled rapidly and then washed with water to recover vaporized chromium. The hydrogen chloride is then absorbed in water to recover it as an aqueous hydrochloric acid solution. The still remaining portion of the resultant gas is washed with sulfuric acid to remove water from the same, followed by compression and cooling. The resulting liquefied chlorine is separated. The still remaining gas composed principally of oxygen is thereafter returned to the oxidation step.

Abstract: A block copolymer of propylene is produced by using propylene itself as a liquid medium, conducting continuous polymerization (former-stage polymerization) of propylene alone or propylene and a small amount of ethylene at first and then conducting batchwise copolymerization (latter-stage polymerization) of ethylene and propylene. The amount of an activity improver to be added to a polymerization tank for the latter-stage polymerization and/or the polymerization time of the latter-stage polymerization are controlled in accordance with the amount of a slurry transferred from a polymerization tank for the former-stage polymerization to the polymerization tank for the latter-stage polymerization so as to maintain the ratio of the amount of the polymer polymerized by the former-stage polymerization to the amount of the polymer polymerized by the latter-stage polymerization constant in the block copolymer.

Abstract: The construction of a joint portion between a column and a bracing in a semi-submerged marine structure which consists of a platform, a column, a submerged body and a bracing to which the column is joined. The bracing consists of a portion having a small cross-sectional area, a tapering portion the cross-sectional area of which increases gradually toward a free end of the bracing, and a free end portion having a larger cross-sectional area. In a joint portion between the column and bracing, the portion of the bracing which has a larger cross-sectional area is in the interior of the column. If the tapering portion of the bracing is welded to the outer plate of the column, the stress in the joint portion can be dispersed into the outer plate and the same portion of the bracing.

Abstract: A process relating to the manufacturing of a structural reinforcing material which is made of a glass fiber reinforced plastic, a carbon fiber reinforced plastic or similar material wherein a precise sectional shape is not required. A fiber body including a plurality of reinforcing fibers is impregnated with a hardenable material and subsequently introduced into a drawing die having a desired sectional shape so as to be formed into a drawn article having a predetermined sectional shape. A tape is coiled therearound so as to cover the article. A string member is coiled therearound to thrust into the surface of the article. Thereafter, the drawn fiber body is subjected to a hardening treatment and the tape and string member are removed.

Abstract: An SO.sub.2 -containing gas, in particular, pre-stage gas for the Claus reaction to recover sulfur can effectively be purified by removing NH.sub.3 contained therein using a TiO.sub.2 catalyst.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an optical recording medium permitting recording and reading-out of signals without any reflective layer. The optical recording medium comprises a transparent substrate and an optical recording layer provided directly on the substrate. The recording layer contains at least 80 wt. % of a naphthalocyanine dye represented by the following general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 may be either the same or different and mean individually a straight-chain or branched alkyl group having 5-12 carbon atoms and M denotes a metal or a metal oxide or halide.

Abstract: A process for purifying tryptophan so as to contain almost no unreacted indole and a process for recovering unreacted indole with a very high percentage are provided, the purification process comprising passing a reaction fluid of tryptophan prepared from indole as raw material by means of an enzyme function, through a porous type, cation exchange resin layer, to cause the ion exchange part of the resin to absorb tryptophan, while to cause the porous part of the resin to adsorb indole, followed by eluting only the tryptophan with an alkali or acid aqueous solution, and the recovery process comprising subjecting tryptophan to repeated treatments of adsorption onto and elution from the ion exchange part of the resin and regeneration followed by eluting indole adsorbed onto the porous part of the resin with a water-containing organic solvent miscible with water and isolating indole from the resulting elute.

Abstract: From the aqueous solution containing cysteine obtained by the enzymatic method or fermentative method, cystine is produced in a high yield by oxidizing the cysteine in the presence of dimethyl sulfoxide.

Abstract: Noval diamines, 2,6-bis(3-aminophenoxy)pyridine and 2,6-bis-(4-aminophenoxy)pyridine, are provided and the method of their preparation is disclosed. These diamines are useful as raw materials for polyimide.These diamines can be prepared by the reaction of 2,6-dichloropyridine or 2,6-dibromopyridine with 3-aminophenol or 4-aminophenol in aprotic polar solvents in the presence of bases.Besides, 2,6-bis(3-aminophenoxy)pyridine can also be prepared by the reaction of 2,6-dicholorpyridine or 2,6-dibromopyridine with 3-nitrophenol, followed by reducing resultant 2,6-bis(3-nitrophenoxy)pyridine.