Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing chitin nanofibers, which includes the steps of deproteinizing a material derived from a chitin-containing organism by an alkali treatment, deashing a deproteinized integument by an acid treatment, optionally treating the deashed integument under acidic conditions, and then subjecting to a fiber-loosening treatment. The present invention also provides chitin nanofibers obtained by the method, and a composite material and a coating composition each containing the same. The present invention provides a method for producing chitosan nanofibers, which includes, in addition to the above steps, a deacetylation step and chitosan nanofibers obtained by the method, and a composite material and a coating composition each containing the same.

Abstract: There is disclosed a novel process for catalyzation for trapping of a catalyst metal involved with the adhesion of an electroless plating to a substrate. The process is carried out by employing neither the sensitizing-activating method nor the catalyst-accelerator method. Specifically, in forming an electroless plating on the surface of a non-conductive substance as a substrate, the surface of the non-conductive substance is coated with a treatment liquid containing at least chitosan or a chitosan derivative before the steps of catalyzation and electroless plating to form a hydrophilic coating film on the surface of the non-conductive substance.