Abstract: A novel optical film capable of readily vitrifying the tendency and state of liquid crystal alignment, excellent in the ability to retain the alignment state, and suitable for the application to optical elements. The film is produced from a liquid-crystal material containing as the essential ingredient a liquid-crystal polyester having structural units (A) and (B) as the essential unit, exhibiting a vitrified state at a temperature lower than the liquid-crystal transition point, and having a logarithmic viscosity number (&eegr;) of 0.04-0.4 dl/g as measured at 30° C. in a phenol/tetrachloroethane solvent (60/40 by weight), wherein each X represents independently O or C═O; each Y represents independently a group selected from among F, Cl, Br and 1-4C alkyls; and n is 0 or 1.

Abstract: The electrochromic device which has an ion conductive layer obtained by curing a composition comprising (a) a bipyridinium compound represented by formula (1), (b) a specific amine compound and (c) a precursor component of a polymeric solid electrolyte, disposed between two electrically conductive substrates at least one of which is transparent, said formula (1) being wherein X— and Y— are the same or different and are each independently a counter anion selected from the group consisting of an halogen anion, ClO4—, BF4—, PF6—, CH3COO— and CH3(C6H4)SO3—, R1 is hydrogen or a C1-C5 alkyl group, R2 is a C1-C30 divalent hydrocarbon or oxygen-containing hydrocarbon group, R3 is a C1-C20 hydrocarbon or oxygen-containing hydrocarbon group and a is an integer of 0 or 1.

Abstract: A refrigerator oil for use with an HFC refrigerant containing HFC-134a and/or HFC-125, which comprises an alkylbenzene oil containing at least 60% by weight of alkylbenzenes having a molecular weight of 200 to 350. An oil composition for use in a refrigerator, which comprises the refrigerator oil mentioned above and an HFC refrigerant containing HFC-134a and/or HFC-125, together with or without an additive such as a phosphoric ester compound.

Abstract: A process for producing a fluoroplastic drawn molded article is disclosed in which a fluoroplastic molded article is brought into contact with a heating medium set at a temperature exceeding the static melting point of the molded article and drawn at a temperature at which the molded article does not substantially melt. The fluoroplastic drawn molded article produced in accordance with the present invention is significantlly improved in physical properties such as tensile strength and tensile modulus.

Abstract: An electrochromic element composed of an electrochromic layer comprising a specified electrically conductive polymer and an ionically conductive substance layer containing a viologen compound, both sandwiched between two electrically conductive substrates at least one of which is transparent.

Abstract: Disclosed is a traction drive fluid which comprises (A) one or more than two compounds selected from the group consisting of saturated polycyclic hydrocarbon compounds represented by the formulae: wherein R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen or a methyl group, provided that the case where both R1 and R2 are a methyl group at the same time is excluded, and R3 and R4 are each independently hydrogen or a methyl group; wherein R5 and R6 are each independently hydrogen or a methyl group, provided that the case where both R5 and R6 are a methyl group at the same time is excluded, R7 and R8 are each independently hydrogen or a methyl group; and wherein R9, R10 and R11 are each independently hydrogen or a methyl group.

Abstract: An ultraviolet absorbing material prepared by reacting (a) an aminosilane compound of general formula (1) or a derivative thereof wherein R1 is C1-C10 alkylene or —(CH2)m—NH— (wherein m is an integer of 1 to 4); R23 s are each independently hydrogen, hydroxyl, halogeno, C1-C10 alkyl or C1-C10 alkoxy, with the proviso that at least one of R2 is C1-C10 alkoxy; and n is an integer of 0 or above with (b) an ultraviolet absorber having a carboxyl group in the molecule in such a way as to form an amide linkage resulting from the above aminosilane compound or derivative thereof. This material can form an ultraviolet absorbing layer and is favorably applicable to ultraviolet-absorbing glass (ultraviolet absorbing plate), optical devices and light modulators.

Abstract: An apparatus for mixing a fluid feed stock, such as a heavy oil, and particles of a catalyst for gasifying the heavy oil in a reactor, comprises the reactor having in the upper portion a circular port through which the particles are fed, a moving bed-forming section disposed on and in communication with the reactor for forming the particles into an annular or cylindrical high-velocity moving bed by dropping the particles downwardly into the reactor, while dispersing the particles radially, an external fluid feed section located so as to spray the feed stock over the entire upper outer periphery of the annular or cylindrical moving bed passing through the reactor, and an internal fluid-feed section located so as to spray the fluid over the entire upper inner periphery corresponding to the outer periphery of the annular moving bed.

Abstract: This invention provides a pitch fiber bundle for carbon fibers of small size, a carbon fiber bundle, and a method for the production thereof, i.e. a method for the production of carbon fibers of a small size, a pitch fiber bundle, and a carbon fiber bundle at a lower cost with higher productivity than usual. The method for the production of pitch type carbon fibers according to this invention comprises dividing a plurality of pitch fibers into not less than two bundles, intertwining the bundles by exposure to currents of air thereby forming a first fiber bundle, binding a plurality of such first fiber bundles, and again intertwining the bound pitch fiber bundles by exposure to currents of air thereby forming a second fiber bundle.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for recycling a powdery solid material used as a catalyst or a heat medium. The system simple in structure compared with a conventional system does not need to use a gas for transporting the solid and can readily maintain the pressure balance to recycle the solids smoothly in a stable manner.

Abstract: The resent invention provides a carbon fiber which enables a molded article produced from a fiber-reinforced composite material using the carbon fiber to exhibit excellent flexibility and to be freed from defects such as bending. According to the method of the present invention the carbon fiber is produced by a two-stage infusibilizing process, namely carrying out a first-stage infusibilization of a pitch-based fiber, which is obtained from mesophase pitch having a softening point of 200 to 400° C. and a true density of 1.30 to 1.38 g/cm3, in a mixed gas atmosphere having a nitrogen dioxide concentration of 1 to 5% by volume and an oxygen concentration of 5 to 50% by volume, the balance being an inert gas or steam, at a temperature between 100 and 200° C. and then carrying out a second-stage infusibilization of the product of the first-stage infusibilization in a mixed gas atmosphere having a nitrogen dioxide concentration of 0.

Abstract: An object is to provide a wax composition for candles which is excellent in moldability in the production of the candles, enables the candles produced therefrom to be reduced in the bending and blocking, and which can be improved in releasability. A wax composition for forming candles, which comprises 100 parts by weight of petroleum paraffin wax and 0.1 to 0.3 parts by weight of a mineral oil, with said petroleum paraffin wax containing 97% by weight and above of a fraction which has 24 and above carbon atoms, having normal paraffin wax/non-normal paraffin wax ratios of at least 9 and having a melting point of 45 to 65.degree. C.

Abstract: A novel silane compound is disclosed, which is used as a suitable strating material (monomer) of polysilane eligible for the precursor of electroconductive- and photoconductive-materials such as phtoresists as well as polymerization initiators and silicone carbide-based ceramics and which is useful for chemical vapor deposition.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to the field of chemical synthesis, and more specifically, to the field of oxidative coupling of olefinic compounds and aromatic compounds, to produce olefinically substituted aromatic compounds. More particularly, this invention relates to methods for oxidative coupling of olefinic compounds and aromatic compounds which employ a rhodium(III) acetylacetonate catalyst and a copper(II) redox agent in a reaction medium which does not comprise a carboxylic acid component. In one embodiment, this invention pertains to methods for the preparation of styrene by the oxidative coupling of ethylene (an olefinic compound) and benzene (an aromatic compound), in the presence of Rh(acac).sub.2 Cl(H.sub.2 O), as catalyst, and Cu(II)(CH.sub.3 COO).sub.2, as copper(II) redox agent, in which benzene is both a reactant and the reaction medium.

Abstract: A method of hydrodesulfurizing a catalytic cracked gasoline which comprises providing a presulfided catalyst modified with a basic organic nitrogen compound and contacting the catalytic cracked gasoline with the catalyst.

Abstract: An electrochromic device comprising a pair of electrically conductive substrates disposed facing each other and each having at least on its inner surface an electrode at least one of said electrically conductive substrates comprising a transparent substrate and a transparent electrode, an ion conductive material inserted between said pair of electrically conductive substrates, an electrochromic material-containing layer disposed between either one of said electrodes and said ion conductive material and an ultraviolet absorptive layer disposed between either at least one of said transparent substrates and the electrode disposed thereover or on the surface of said transparent substrate opposite to the transparent electrode disposed thereover, said ultraviolet absorptive layer being formed by coating and curing on the surface at said transparent substrate a reaction product of (A) an aminosilane compound of the formula (I) or the derivative thereof and (B) an ultraviolet absorptive material having in its molecul

Abstract: A catalyst comprises a composition resulting from mutual contact of the following Components. (A), (B), (C) and (D):said Component (A) being a reaction product resulting from mutual contact of components (a), (b) and (c);said component (a) being represented by the formulaMe.sup.1 R.sup.1.sub.p (OR.sup.2).sub.q X.sup.1.sub.4-p-q Iwherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each are a C.sub.1 -C.sub.24 hydrocarbon moieties, X.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom, Me.sup.1 is titanium, zirconium or hafnium, p and q are 0.ltoreq.p.ltoreq.4, 0.ltoreq.q.ltoreq.4 and 0.ltoreq.p+q.ltoreq.4,said component (b) being represented by the formulaMe.sup.2 R.sup.3.sub.m (OR.sup.4).sub.n X.sup.2.sub.z-m-n IIwherein R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 each are a C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 4 hydrocarbon moieties, X.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom, Me.sup.2 is an element of Groups I to III in the Periodic Table, z is a valence of Me.sup.2, and m and n are 0.ltoreq.m.ltoreq.z, 0.ltoreq.n.ltoreq.z and 0.ltoreq.m+n.ltoreq.

Abstract: Provided is an economical identification system suitable for use on commercial products which is difficult to duplicate, and highly identifiable. The system includes an identification medium having a high-polymer cholesteric liquid crystal material applied thereon. The high-polymer cholesteric liquid crystals selectively reflect a certain wavelength, and this wavelength changes with the change in the incident angle of the light. The liquid crystals also have the property to circularly polarize the reflected light in either sense. By taking advantages of such properties, it is possible to provide a highly identifiable structure which, however, is highly difficult to illicitly duplicate. In particular, by forming the reflective layer of a hologram with high-polymer cholesteric liquid crystals, the hologram can be used as an identification medium which is highly difficult to duplicate but easy to identify with a machine.

Abstract: A curved surface screen-printing apparatus adapted to screen-print a to-be-printed object having a large radius of curvature. Concentric curved-surface guides having an equal radius of curvature are respectively provided on both side portions of a jig table on which a printing board to be bent and used as the to-be-printed object is placed. A squeegee head crossing over the jig table, and a screen plate mounting frame are provided in the apparatus. A pair of steel belts are used to connect a corresponding one of the guides to the frame. The belts of each pair are made to intersect each other. An end of each of the belts is fixed to a side end portion of a corresponding one of the curved surface guides as viewed from a side thereof. The other end thereof is fixed to a corner portion of the screen plate mounting frame. A reciprocating motion of the squeegee head causes the screen plate mounting frame to perform a rocking motion along the curved surface of the jig table.

Abstract: A grease composition for rolling bearings is disclosed which contains:(A) 100 parts by weight of a base oil having the kinematic viscosity of 40 to 200 mm.sup.2 /s at 40.degree. C.,(B) 5 to 65 parts by weight of a urea thickener, and(C) 0.05 to 10 parts by weight of zinc dithiocarbamate,the composition being free of boron nitride. This grease composition is suitable for application to rolling bearings in electrical components and accessory devices for automotive vehicles, such as alternators, electromagnetic clutches for car air conditioners, idle pulleys, electric fan motors, or the like.