Abstract: A rubber composition comprising (i) a nitrile group-containing highly saturated copolymer rubber, which is a product obtained by hydrogenating the conjugated diene portion of an unsaturated nitrile-conjugated diene copolymer, and (ii) an ethylene-.alpha.-olefin-non-conjugated diene copolymer rubber. The highly saturated copolymer rubber has an alkylthio group having 12 to 16 carbon atoms, which include at least three tertiary carbon atoms, and has a sulfur atom which is directly bound to at least one of the tertiary carbon atoms; and the highly saturated copolymer. rubber further has a Mooney viscosity of 15 to 200 and an iodine value not larger than 80.

Abstract: A process for preparation of a gem-difluoroalkane is provided which comprises(A) a step to add a fluorinated alkane having a boiling point of -30.degree. to 30.degree. to a crude alkyne having 3 or 4 carbon atoms containing a polymerizable olefin as an impurity, and distill the mixture to remove the polymerizable olefin,(B) a step to react hydrogen fluoride with the fluorinated alkane and the alkyne having 3 or 4 carbon atoms obtained in the above step to synthesize the gem-difluoroalkane, and(C) a step to distill the reaction solution of the above (B) to obtain the gem-difluoroalkane.According to this process, gem-difluoroalkanes can be prepared more economically compared with usual processes.

Abstract: A phase plate comprises, as a birefringent layer, a film obtained by stretching and orienting a sheet of a thermoplastic saturated norbornene resin, which has been formed by melt forming. The phase plate of the invention is such that the birefringent layer is optically even at the whole surface, and such optical evenness remains constant even by changes of temperature, humidity and/or the like. The phase plate of the invention can be used in parts for polarization microscopes, parts for liquid crystal displays, etc., and is particularly suitable for use in a phase plate for liquid crystal displays.

Abstract: A thermoplastic elastomer composition comprising (A) a thermoplastic copolyester or copolyamide elastomer, (B) an epoxy group-containing methacrylate or acrylate copolymer rubber and (C) a carboxyl group-containing methacrylate or acrylate copolymer rubber, wherein the content of component (A) is 30-90 wt. %, the total content of components (B) and (C) is 10-70 wt. %, and components (B) and (C) are crosslinked with each other. The composition provides flexible rubber articles having enhanced modulus, heat aging resistance and compression set resistance.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for hydrogenating a metathesis polymer solution obtained by polymerization in the presence of a metathesis polymerization catalyst comprising (a) the catalyst component of a transition metal compound and (b) the co-catalyst component of a metal compound by bringing the above solution into contact with hydrogen, without adding an inactivating agent for the metathesis polymerization catalyst, that is, with the solution left to contain the catalyst, in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst comprising a transition metal compound (c) and a reductive metal compound (d) and if necessary by adding an acid-binding compound.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a positive resist composition comprising an alkali-soluble phenolic resin and a photosensitive agent, characterized in that the positive resist composition contains, as the photosensitive agent, the quinonediazide sulfonate of at least one of phenolic compounds represented by the following general formulae (I) and (II): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 through R.sub.4 mean individually a hydrogen or halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkyl or alkenyl group having 1-3 carbon atoms, or a hydroxyalkyl group having 1-3 carbon atoms and may be equal to or different from one another, and R.sub.5 denotes a hydrogen atom, an alkyl or alkenyl group having 1-3 carbon atoms, or an aryl group with the proviso that the number of hydroxyl groups is 3 or 4; and ##STR2## wherein R.sub.6 through R.sub.9 mean individually a hydrogen or halogen atom, an alkyl or alkenyl group having 1-3 carbon atoms, or a hydroxyalkyl group having 1-3 carbon atoms and may be equal to or different from one another, and R.sub.

Abstract: A block copolymer composition comprising 20-90 wt. % of at least one block copolymer selected from the group consisting of block copolymers represented by the general formula (S--B--I).sub.n --X and block copolymers represented by the general formula (S--I--B).sub.n --X, and 80-10 wt. % of at least one block copolymer selected from the group consisting of block copolymers represented by the general formula S--B--I and block copolymers represented by the general formula S--I--B, and a pressure sensitive adhesive composition comprising, as a base polymer, the block copolymer composition are provided.

Abstract: An isoprene-based hydrocarbon resin having a softening point of from 60.degree. to 140.degree. C. and a number average molecular weight of from 500 to 2000 which is obtained by cationic polymerization of a monomer mixture comprising from 40 to 90% by weight of isoprene and from 10 to 60% by weight of an aliphatic monoolefin containing 4 to 10 carbon atoms in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst and an adhesive composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a base polymer selected from the group consisting of an amorphous propylene polymer, a block copolymer rubber and isoprene rubber and from 10 to 200 parts by weight of said isoprene-based hydrocarbon resin as a tackifier are disclosed. The isoprene-based hydrocarbon resin is excellent in hue and heat stability to provide an adhesive composition excellent in heat stability.

Abstract: A balloon catheter has an inner tube communicating with a blood introduction port provided at a tip of the balloon portion. The inner tube is affixed to the inner wall of the catheter tube by adhesion, melt-bonding, or integral formation. The balloon catheter has a small channel resistance in the channel where the pressurized fluid which expands and contracts the balloon portion flows, even when the catheter tube has been bent, and enables expansion and contraction of the balloon portion with a good response. Another balloon catheter has the balloon portions at a range of the end sides of the balloon portions smaller in sectional area compared with the balloon portions at the tip sides. The catheter is able to effectively prevent side effects which occur only rarely but which are serious when they do occur. The catheter impairs as little as possible the effect of assisting the heart action inherent to the IABP method without special measurement of the diameter of the patient's blood vessels.

Abstract: A highly effective vaccine for Mycoplasma gallisepticum infection utilizing a substantially pure protein capable of reacting with Mycoplasma gallisepticum immunized serum or Mycoplasma gallisepticum infected serum, having a molecular weight of about 40 kilodaltons encoded by DNA sequence derived from Mycoplasma gallisepticum and having a specific restriction enzyme map, or a protein functionally equivalent thereto.

Abstract: According to this invention, there is provided a binder containing a polyurethane resin having an urethane bond and formed by the reaction of a diisocyanate and a polyol, said resin containing on the average at least 2.3 isocyanate groups in a molecule, having a number average molecular weight of at least 2,000 but at most 10,000 and containing less than 20% of a component having a molecular weight of at most 1,000; a magnetic recording layer or back coat layer using same; and a magnetic recording medium having same. Said magnetic recording medium is excellent in magnetic characteristics, durability and running property.

Abstract: A polymer composition including a thermoplastic norbornene polymer which preferably has a number average molecular weight of 10,00-200,000 as determined by gel permeation chromatography in toluene solvent and calculated as styrene and a content of norbornene polymer components having a number average molecular weight of 2,000 or less of 1% by weight or less, and a compounding ingredient, such as a rubber-like polymer, wherein the compounding ingredient is preferably dispersed in the form of microdomains in the norbornene polymer; and medical implements and optical naturals formed essentially of the composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to vinyl chloride resin composition suitable for automobile interior skin material of which the die pollution is low, die releasing capacity is light and amine resistance is high.This invention provides the vinyl chloride resin composition for powder material forming characterized by the components of the mixture consisting of: 100 parts for weight of vinyl chloride resin, 0.01 to 3 parts for weight of the thermal stabilizer indicated by general formula (RCO0).sub.2 M(in the formula, R: alkyl group having 10 to 20 carbons, M: lead, zinc, magnesium, calcium, cadmium, strontium or barium), 0.01 to 5 parts for weight of hydroxy stearic acid and/or hydroxy stearic acid dister polymer, and plasticizer.

Abstract: The present invention provides the hydrogenated product of a thermoplastic norbornene polymer excellent in characteristics as optical materials by reducing the residual amounts of the transition metal atoms originating from the polymerization catalyst used at the polymerization to 1 ppm or less of the hydrogenated product.Reduction of the residual amounts to below the desired level is attained by treating the reaction solution with the adsorbent during or after production of the hydrogenated product from the thermoplastic norbornene polymer.The hydrogenated product of the thermoplastic norbornene polymer thus obtained in which the residual amounts of the transition metal atoms are 1 ppm or less, has a wide utilization field, including a material for optical articles having excellent utilization characteristics such as substrates for optical elements, lenses and the like.

Abstract: A halogenated aluminum-based cocatalyst provides a metathesis catalyst system with high activity, moisture insensitivity, and long pot lives. The cocatalyst can be employed in solution or in in-mold bulk polymerization processes.

Abstract: A balloon catheter used for intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP). In the balloon catheter, an outer diameter of a catheter tube is not made constant in the axial direction. Rather, the outer diameter of the catheter tube from a hemostatic valve to a bifurcation, the portion which is positioned outside the patient's blood vessel, is made 3 to 30 percent larger than the outer diameter of the catheter tube from the balloon portion to the hemostatic valve, which is positioned inside the patient's blood vessel. The bifurcation has a first passage and a second passage. The first passage is communicating with a shuttle gas port and is disposed straight along the direction of the axial center of the catheter tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for assisting blood circulation includes an inflow tube which can be inserted into the right atrium from a peripheral blood vessel or which can be inserted into the left atrium from a peripheral blood vessel through the right atrium and the foramen ovale of the interarterial septum. An outflow tube is inserted into the aorta or into the carotid artery from a peripheral blood vessel to deliver the blood to the aorta or to the carotid artery. The outlet tube has an outlet for blood on the side of a upstream part of the tube and a blood pump which can take in the blood from the inflow tube and send out the blood to the outflow tube. When the former inflow tube is used, it also comprises an oxygen gas exchanger which exchanges carbon dioxide in the blood for oxygen. The apparatus can be very easily applied to the patient without thoracotomy to assist the circulation of blood.

Abstract: A covulcanizable rubber composition including a partially hydrogenated unsaturated nitrile-conjugated diene copolymer having an iodine value not larger than 120, a chlorinated ethylene-propylene copolymer and a vulcanizer. The composition exhibits an improved processing property when mixed, and provides a vulcanized rubber having an improved constant-elongation fatigue resistance.

Abstract: A crosslinking plastisol comprising (1) an epoxy group-containing vinyl chloride resin, (2) a triazine compound, (3) a plasticizer, and (4) an optional amino group- and/or thiol group-containing silane compound. The plastisol is capable of providing a shaped article or a laminated article, which has good heat distortion resistance, chemical resistance, resistance to whitening due to water, adhesion, transparency and thermal resistance on processing.

Abstract: A balloon catheter having a balloon part composed of a film which is formed from a polymer having a number average molecular weight of at least 50,000, and has an initial modulus at 100% of at least 95 kg/cm.sup.2 is provided. The balloon part is far excellent in preventive effect against its destruction is provided. The balloon catheter is suitable for use as a balloon catheter for intraaortic balloon pumping because the balloon part is prevented from being worn due to the rubbing of the balloon part against a calcified deposit on a blood vessel upon its practical operation.