Abstract: The polymeric composition for friction elements comprises a co-polymer between (I) a resin containing phenolic groups and a reticulation agent, and (II) an organopolysiloxane resin containing terminal silanol groups. A part at least of the phenolic groups is bound to the terminal silanol groups. A process of the preparation of the above polymeric composition may comprise the following steps: a) mixing (I) a resin containing the phenolic groups and the reticulation agent, (II) resin containing the terminal silanol groups, and (III) an epoxy resin or the epoxidisesd organopolysiloxane; b) curing the mixture for a period of time sufficient to complete substantially the reaction between the phenolic groups and the terminal silanol groups, c) post-heating the product obtained under b).

Abstract: A near infrared-cutting material produced by forming, on a transparent substrate, a transparent resin film containing at least a near infrared absorbing-dye and a dye having a maximum absorption wavelength at 550 to 620 nm, wherein the amount of the solvent remaining in the transparent resin film is 5 ppm by weight to less than 500 ppm by weight; since the amount of the solvent remaining in the transparent resin film containing a near infrared-absorbing dye, etc. is minimized, the long-term stability of the near infrared-absorbing dye, etc. in the film at high temperatures is greatly improved.

Abstract: A method for separating and collecting nucleic acids, which comprises: a step of bringing a sample nucleic acid solution into contact with a nucleic acid-immobilized substrate comprising a substrate and two or more kinds of single-stranded nucleic acids separately immobilized on the substrate, to allow hybridization of the immobilized single-stranded nucleic acids and single-stranded nucleic acids complementary to the immobilized single-stranded nucleic acids, and a step of separating the hybridized single-stranded nucleic acids according to immobilized portions of the immobilized nucleic acids, to collect the hybridized single-stranded nucleic acids without disassembling the nucleic acid-immobilized substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a near infrared absorption material comprising: a transparent substrate, and at least a transparent resin layer formed thereon, containing a near infrared absorption dye and a dye selectively absorbing a light of 550 to 620 nm wavelength region; or, comprising: a transparent substrate, and at least a transparent resin layer containing a near infrared absorption dye and an adhesive layer containing a dye selectively absorbing a light of 550 to 620 nm wave-length region, both formed on the transparent substrate so that the adhesive layer becomes the outermost layer.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method of producing a fuel cell separator. In this method, dry granules of a composition for a fuel cell separator mainly containing a conductive material, a binder, and an additive are produced by mixing raw materials including at least the conductive material, the binder, and the additive, granulating the resultant mixture to obtain granules, and drying the granules. The dry granules may be further sized. Then, the granules are packed in a mold, and hot-press molded. This method is characterized in that the granules have a residual volatile matter content in a range of 4 wt % or less, and an average particle size in a range of 200 to 700 &mgr;m (60 to 160 &mgr;m for the sized granules) and a specific particle size distribution. With this method, a fuel cell separator having a high elasticity, an excellent dimensional accuracy, and a high gas non-permeability can be produced with no molding failures, accordingly, with a uniform quality.

Abstract: A dual mode drum brake device of this invention is subject to lightning and low-cost without over braking during the parking brake operation. Pistons 10, 11 in a cylinder device 9 push and rotate brake shoes 2, 3 to be separated apart around an abutment point with an anchor 8 during the service brake operation, thereby functioning as a leading trailing brake. An operation force W of the parking brake rotates a lever 14 in a counterclockwise direction around a pin 13, one end of the lever 14 rotates the brake shoe 3 outwardly around a protuberance 12a via the pin 13, and the other end of the lever 1 rotates the lever 12 in a clockwise direction via a strut 15 around the protuberance 12a to rotate the brake shoe 2 outwardly around the abutment point with the anchor 8 via the protuberance 12a.

Abstract: A method of producing a fuel cell separator in which dry granules of a composition for a fuel cell separator mainly containing a conductive material, a binder, and an additive are produced by mixing raw materials including at least the conductive material, the binder, and the additive, granulating the resultant mixture to obtain granules, and drying the granules. The dry granules may be further sized. Then the granules are packed in a mold and hot-press molded. The granules have a residual volatile matter content in a range of 4 weight-% or less, and an average particle size in a range of 200 to 700 &mgr;m (60 to 160 &mgr;m for the sized granules) and a specific particle size distribution.

Abstract: To provide a method of manufacturing a friction member with high painting performance in which undesirable matters, which stick to the friction member before painting, are removed, and degreasing and recovery of damaged portions are carried out. In the method of manufacturing a friction member in which a friction material is attached to a metal back plate and they are painted, after the friction material is attached to the back plate, the back plate is treated before painting. The treating prior to painting process may be shot-blasting or coating with phosphate. With this treatment before painting, parting compounds that are adhered when the friction material is attached to the back plate is to be removed; dirty things and attached matters are removed; and flaws due to blasting are recovered, resulting in improved painting performance in adhesiveness.

Abstract: A fuel cell separator composition containing an electrically conductive carbonaceous powder and a binder that is a mixture of a thermoset resin with a polyoxazine compound having a plurality of oxazine rings can be used to efficiently mass-produce high-modulus fuel cell separators of excellent dimensional stability and gas impermeability. By employing such fuel cell separators as some or all of the separators in a solid polymer fuel cell, there can be obtained solid polymer fuel cells which are not subject to cracking or breakage during assembly, have good gas sealing properties, and are endowed with excellent vibration and impact resistance.

Abstract: A computer color matching method of paint for measuring a proper formulation of colorants for obtaining a target color or color and luster, or a proper formulation of colorants and luster color materials, directly in a liquid state of paint, without preparing painted panels from adjusted paint, and calculating the adjusted blending ratio easily and accurately, and a paint manufacturing method by using this method.

Abstract: A brake cable connecting apparatus of a brake-actuating mechanism for a drum brake is mainly composed of a brake lever (22) and a strut (21). A cable end (24a) of a brake cable (24) is snapped into a free end (22e) of the brake lever (22) when the brake cable (24) is pulled in the cable operating direction against a spring force of a return spring (15) and disassembled therefrom when the brake cable (24) is removed from the free end (22e) while the brake lever (22) is pressed by a tool (30). A guide section (22h), for supporting a top of the tool (30), is formed on the brake lever (22) at a side relative to the cable releasing direction.

Abstract: A carbonaceous composite material molded from a carbonaceous composite compound composed mainly of graphite, a thermosetting resin, and a fibrous base material, wherein molding is carried out in such a way that said fibrous base material is oriented in said carbonaceous composite material; a process for producing said carbonaceous composite material; a fuel cell separator having said carbonaceous composite material as a component; and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. The carbonaceous composite material can be produced by injection molding, transfer molding or extrusion molding without difficulties encountered in the past. It has high strength, with a minimum amount of warpage. It contributes to productivity.

Abstract: A device for engaging or disengaging an end fitting of a control cable to or from a lever in a drum brake or the like is arranged to be shorter but to have a large lever ratio for the lever. A shoe is engaged with one end of a strut, and the lever is pivotally journalled to the other end of the strut while another shoe is engaged with the lever at a portion near to the journalled part. The strut has two opposed side walls and a bridge part therebetween for restraining the lever at a specified position. The lever is composed of a pair of planer members which are joined together at the proximal end, and are spaced apart from each other at the free end to form a narrow gap and at the longitudinally middle portion to form a wide gap. The narrow gap allows a cable itself of the cable to pass therethrough but to inhibit from passing therethrough and the wide gap allows a longer side of the end fitting to pass therethrough.

Abstract: A brake cable connecting apparatus ensures prevention of brake cable disengagement by a simple structure that offers simple and accurate assemblability. The brake cable connecting apparatus comprises the strut 23 engaging with the brake shoe 12 and the plate-like brake lever engaging with the brake shoe 13. The proximal portion 24a of the brake lever 24 is pivotally positioned in the wider space 23c formed between the two facing surface walls of the strut 23. The cable end 42 of the brake cable 40 is connected with the free end 24e of the brake lever 24 by the connecting pin 43. The inner cable 41 is operated to effectuate braking, and the projection 24g of the free end 24e interferes with the resilient stopper 33 of the resilient member 30 mounted on the strut 23 and is positioned on the rotating trajection of the brake lever 24.

Abstract: A polymer battery which includes a cell assembly having a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator composed primarily of a fluoropolymer is manufactured by impregnating the cell assembly with an electrolyte composition containing (A) an ion-conductive salt, (B) a solvent in which the ion-conductive salt is soluble and (C) a compound having at least two reactive double bonds per molecule, then reacting the component C compound to form a three-dimensional network structure. The polymer battery has a high safety, a good thermal cycling resistance and robust characteristics even when held at an elevated temperature, making it particularly suitable for use as a lithium secondary cell or a lithium ion secondary cell.

Abstract: A carbonaceous composite material molded from a carbonaceous composite compound composed mainly of graphite, a thermosetting resin, and a fibrous base material, wherein molding is carried out in such a way that said fibrous base material is oriented in said carbonaceous composite material; a process for producing said carbonaceous composite material; a fuel cell separator having said carbonaceous composite material as a component; and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. The carbonaceous composite material can be produced by injection molding, transfer molding or extrusion molding without difficulties encountered in the past. It has high strength, with a minimum amount of warpage. It contributes to productivity.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of forming an electrode section on the inner surface of the transparent, electromagnetic wave shielding plate, composed of a transparent substrate coated with an electroconductive member and transparent film in this order. These are laminated into a monolithic structure via a heat-bond film. (a) The components of the transparent, electromagnetic wave shielding plate are laminated by hot pressing into the monolithic structure, after replacing the perimeter or part of the heat-bond film corresponding to the electrode section by a frame member almost as thick as the heat-bond film. (b) The frame member and part of the outer transparent film are removed. Both of these correspond to the electrode section, or only the outer transparent film for the part corresponds to the electrode section. (c) The electroconductive section of the electroconductive member is exposed to the surface layer section by the above steps (a) and (b).

Abstract: The present invention provides a front plate for plasma display panels with the transparent substrate, electroconductive member and optical film fast adhered to each other, easily produced by a simple process, and excellent in productivity. The present invention further provides a method of producing the same. The present invention provides a front plate for plasma display panels comprising a transparent substrate laminated, at least on one side, with an electroconductive member and at least one type of optical film to form a monolithic structure, wherein (a) two types of adhesive layers of tackifier layer and heat-bond film are orderly placed between the optical film as the outermost layer and the adjacent member, and (b) the transparent substrate, electroconductive member and at least one type of optical film are pressed under heating.

Abstract: A fuel cell separator is molded from a resin composition containing specific amounts of graphite, thermosetting resin and internal release agent. The graphite is a synthetic graphite powder prepared by graphitizing lump coke. The thermosetting resin is a mixture of phenolic novolac, benzoxazine and polycarbodiimide resins. The molded separator does not need to be machined, has a significantly improved electrical conductivity, heat resistance and mechanical strength, and even when very thin is resistant to breakage during molding and fuel cell assembly.

Abstract: To provide an electrical component, in which ions migrate between electrodes and which provides high efficiency. A method for manufacturing an electrical component, in which ions migrate between electrodes, whereby an ion conductive polymer layer 2 dissolving ions is formed on an electrode material layer 12 of at least one of a pair of electrode structures 1 which comprise an electrode material layer 12 formed on a current collector 11 said pair of electrode structures 1 are arranged at opposed positions with the current collector 11 facing outward, and this is stored in a housing 4, and liquid electrolyte is injected into the housing.