Abstract: Provided is a process for silver nanowire production in which the major-axis length of the silver nanowires can be controlled in a wide range and an agent for controlling the growth of silver nanowires. A process for silver nanowire production which is characterized in that an agent for controlling the growth of silver nanowires which comprises a polymer obtained by polymerizing one or more polymerizable monomers comprising an N-substituted (meth)acrylamide is reacted with a silver compound in a polyol at 25-180° C. The agent for controlling the growth of silver nanowires is characterized by comprising a polymer which has units of an N-substituted (meth)acrylamide as a polymerizable monomer.

Abstract: Provided is a process for silver nanowire production in which the major-axis length of the silver nanowires can be controlled in a wide range and an agent for controlling the growth of silver nanowires. A process for silver nanowire production which is characterized in that an agent for controlling the growth of silver nanowires which comprises a polymer obtained by polymerizing one or more polymerizable monomers comprising an N-substituted (meth)acrylamide is reacted with a silver compound in a polyol at 25-180° C. The agent for controlling the growth of silver nanowires is characterized by comprising a polymer which has units of an N-substituted (meth)acrylamide as a polymerizable monomer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a resin composition, which, by means of simple steps, can uniformly disperse microfibrillated plant fiber in a highly hydrophobic resin and can impart enhanced mechanical strength to a molding material obtained by molding the resin composition. The present invention further provides a resin composition having excellent heat resistance and low linear thermal expansion. The present invention relates to a method for producing a resin composition, the method including a step of mixing a thermoplastic resin or thermosetting resin (A), and modified plant fiber (b) or modified microfibrillated plant fiber (B), in the presence of an organic liquid (C), the modified plant fiber (b) or modified microfibrillated plant fiber (B) being obtained by modification with an alkyl or alkenyl succinic anhydride in a liquid capable of swelling microfibrillated plant fiber (B?) or plant fiber (b).

Abstract: The present invention relates to modified cellulose nanofibers obtained by neutralizing cationic groups of cationic cellulose nanofibers with an anionic additives. Moreover, the present invention relates to a resin composition containing the aforementioned modified cellulose nanofibers and a molding resin, and to a molded body obtained by molding the resin composition. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a production method of modified cellulose nanofibers comprising neutralizing cationic groups of cationic cellulose nanofibers with an anionic additives.

Abstract: This invention provides a polyolefin-based molded article containing microfibrillated plant fibers having high strength and high elastic modulus. Specifically, the present invention provides a composition comprising (1) a polymeric compound having a primary amino group, (2) a polymeric compound modified with maleic anhydride, (3) microfibrillated plant fibers, and (4) a polyolefin; and a molded article obtained by subjecting the composition to heat treatment.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining the physiological state of a microbial community, which rapidly and precisely determines the physiological state of a microbial community present in a treatment tank of a wastewater biological treatment facility; and a wastewater treatment method utilizing the same.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a papermaking method that can enhance the retention in the papermaking steps. This invention provides a method including making paper by adding to pulp slurry a silica sol which is prepared through a reaction between an aqueous solution of sodium silicate and a mineral acid, and which has, under a SiO2 concentration from 15 to 50 g/L wherein the value of the concentration is shown by [C], a viscosity from 0.12×[C] mPa·s to 15 mPa·s measured at 25° C, and a cationic component and/or an amphoteric component.

Abstract: A novel (meth)acrylamide polymer capable of forming a papermaking chemical exhibiting an excellent paper strengthening effect, drainage improvement effect, retention improvement effect, plybond strength enhancing effect, surface strength enhancing effect, and sizing improvement effect in acid, neutral, or alkaline papermaking systems, as well as a method for manufacturing this polymer, and paper that makes use of this polymer and has excellent bursting strength, internal bond strength, and other such properties is provided. This is a (meth)acrylamide polymer produced by polymerizing a monomer (a) expressed by the following general formula 1, the following monomer (b), and the following monomer (c): (a) general formula 1: (b) a (meth)acrylamide; (c) an ionic monomer other than monomer (a) expressed by general formula 1 above.

Abstract: An agent for improving surface quality of paper comrising an acrylamide resin composition obtained by hydrolyzing an acrylamide resin which is obtained by polymerizing an acrylamide monomer in the presence of a urea compound, or copolymerizing an acrylamide monomer and an acrylonitrile monomer; an acrylamide monomer and a cross-linking agent; or an acrylamide monomer, an acrylnitrile monomer and a cross-linking agent in the presence of a urea compound. This agent provides paper with excellent surface strength, tensile strength and internal strength far better than conventional paper quality improving agents.

Abstract: A novel additive for papermaking is disclosed. The additive comprises an aqueous solution of a copolymer obtained by reacting (a) an acrylamide, (b) a vinyl monomer which is copolymerizable with component (a) and has a cationic group, (c) at least one of vinyl monomers which are copolymerizable with component (a) and (b) and have 2, 3 or 4 carboxyl groups in a molecule thereof and/or a salt thereof, optionally (e) a nonionic monomer which is copolymerizable with components (a), (b) and (c) if desired, and (d) a cross-linking compound, in the presence of (f) at least one of ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, diethanolamine and glycerin.This novel additive for papermaking is able to achieve excellent freeness and retention in the process of papermaking and provides paper with increased strength.

Abstract: A refining assisting agent comprising sulfonated chitosan has been provided. With the addition of the sulfonated chitosan according to the present invention, power needed in the refining can be remarkably reduced compared with that needed in the conventional refining. In addition, the refining assisting additive improves paper strength.

Abstract: The present invention provides a paper sizing composition comprising a rosin material and cationic acrylamide and/or methacrylamide polymers having hydrophobic groups wherein said rosin material is directly emulsified in water with said polymers. The sizing composition has an improved storage stability and exhibits an excellent sizing performance in the acidic through neutral pH range.

Abstract: This invention provides a rosin emulsion sizing agent for papermaking comprising a fortified or unfortified rosin-epoxy compound obtained by reacting a rosin and an epoxy compound, wherein the rosin-epoxy compound is dispersed in water with the aid of an emulsifying and dispersing agent, and paper sized therewith and a method of sizing using the same. The rosin emulsion sizing agent of the present invention exhibits an distinguished sizing effect in neutral papermaking systems even when calcium carbonate is contained therein and is excellent in mechanical and storage stabilities while causing little foaming in the papermaking system. In addition, the sizing agent presents no significant difficulties in its production.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing decayed portions from the exterior of potatoes is disclosed. The potatoes are supported and advanced on a series of rollers some of which include a plurality of resilient fingers which disrupt the decayed portions of the potato surface while leaving the remaining portions of the surface intact, and then advance the potatoes relative to a plurality of water spray nozzles, said rollers adapted to orient the potatoes so that the entire surface of the potato is subjected to spray emanating from said nozzles. The water sprays have sufficient force to disrupt and remove decayed portions of the potatoes while leaving the remaining portions of the potatoes substantially intact.