Abstract: In preparing a solar cell, minute projections and recesses are uniformly formed in a surface of a single crystal silicon substrate or a polycrystal silicon substrate by dipping in an etching liquid composed of a mixed acid which is composed mainly of a hydrofluoride acid, a nitric acid and a phosphoric acid in addition to a surface active agent. A solar cell having a substrate in which spherical projections and recesses are formed in a surface of it to which light is incident; an apparatus for producing efficiently a solar cell by realizing the above-mentioned process, and a wet etching apparatus to effect stably the above-mentioned process to thereby maintaining a concentration of a nitric acid to be constant, are provided.

Abstract: Disclosed are a photo-semiconductive electrode that has a high light-to-electricity conversion efficiency and excellent stability and can be prepared economically and easily, and a photo-electric cell using the photo-semiconductive electrode. The photo-electric cell comprises a photo-semiconductive electrode having an electroconductive base and a light-to-electricity conversion layer formed thereon, and a counter electrode, such that the photo-semiconductive electrode and the counter electrode contact an electrolyte, wherein the light-to-electricity conversion layer holds an organic pigment. In the photo-electric cell, the photo-semiconductive electrode and the counter electrode are used integrally and disposed so that these electrodes contact the electrolyte. The organic pigment suited for use in the layer is selected from the group consisting of: phthalocyanine pigment such as titanyl phthalocyanine, chlorogallium phthalocyanine and hydroxygallium phthalocyanine; and naphthalocyanine pigments.

Abstract: Disclosed is a heat-sealable lactic acid-based polymer laminates which have heat resistance of 60.degree. C. or above, high sealing strength and good biodegradability and are useful in various films, sheets, packaging containers, etc., comprising a base layer (I) made of a crystallized lactic acid-based polymer (A) and a sealing layer (II) made of an amorphous lactic acid-based polymer (B) having a softening point lower than the melting point of said lactic acid-based polymer (A), and films, sheets or packaging containers with the use of these laminates.

Abstract: The invention relates to a molded tip on tubing and a method of making the same. The molded tip is molded on the tubing in a mold cavity and is for use in a stent delivery device, guide catheter, or angiographic catheter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-PVC, non-DEHP material that can be used for medical grade tubing. Additionally, the present invention provides medical grade tubing made from such a material.

Abstract: An improved photovoltaic cell, according to one embodiment, includes a base layer; a primary window layer having a first type of doping, with the primary window layer being disposed over the base layer; and a secondary window layer having the first type of doping, with the secondary window layer being disposed over the primary window layer. In another embodiment, the improved photovoltaic cell has a multilayer back-surface field structure; a base layer disposed over the back-surface field structure; and a primary window layer disposed over the base layer. In yet another embodiment, the photovoltaic cell includes a base layer; and a primary window layer disposed over the base layer, with the primary window layer having a thickness of at least about 1000 Angstroms.

Abstract: A quartz glass component for use in the manufacture of semiconductors is provided. It has a rough surface which is formed by irregular elevated structural elements which extend between a first, higher plane and a second, lower plane. A plurality of the structural elements has a substantially flat top surface extending in the first plane. This surface is bounded on all sides by facet-like, substantially flat, side surfaces which extend between the first and the second planes. The average surface roughness depth R.sub.a lies between 0.1 .mu.m and 10 .mu.m and the size of the structural elements ranges on average between 30 .mu.m and 180 .mu.m. The invention provides a quartz glass component particularly suitable for the adhesion of CVD layers and having a long service life.

Abstract: An improved solar cell interconnect comprises a first connecting portion for connection to a first solar cell and a second connecting portion for connection to a second solar cell immediately adjacent the first solar cell. A stress portion is disposed between the first and second connecting portions such that the stress portion can be positioned between the first and second solar cells. The stress portion has a plurality of alternating loop portions that form an undulating pattern.

Abstract: A transparent conductive film of a zinc oxide type containing gallium and silicon, which contains silicon in an amount of from 0.01 to 1.5 mol % in terms of SiO.sub.2.

Abstract: A glass run channel comprising a glass run channel body composed of a bottom wall and side walls extending from two opposite edges of the bottom wall, the glass run channel body having a substantially U-shaped section and provided with a groove, and tonguelike draining parts protruding from vicinities of distal edges of the side walls toward the bottom wall of the glass run channel body so as to become proximate to each other. Each of the tonguelike draining parts has a window glass contact part composed of a surface to be brought into contact with a window glass, which comprises a layer of a thermoplastic elastomer and a layer of an ultrahigh molecular weight polyolefin composition. The layer of ultrahigh molecular weight polyolefin composition is arranged so as to contact a window glass. The ultrahigh molecular weight polyolefin composition comprises at least a polyolefin (composition) having a specified intrinsic viscosity and an olefinic thermoplastic elastomer.

Abstract: A glass substrate having fine holes formed therein by use of a laser beam without cracks or fragmentation occurring. A glass substrate is used in which silver is contained in the form Ag atoms, Ag colloid or Ag ions, to a predetermined depth from a surface of the glass, and further the concentration gradient of the silver is a maximum at one side surface on which the fine hole machining is performed and gradually decreases toward the other side surface, whereby ablation and evaporation occurs from the surface having the maximum concentration of silver layer by layer without causing cracking or fragmentation.

Abstract: A multilayer heat-sealable chlorine-free film of relatively low modulus, high interlaminar strength, and low noise upon flexing is provided. The film includes an odor barrier layer and at least one directly adjoining heat-sealable skin layer. The barrier layer is composed of either an aliphatic or partially aromatic polyamide resin, or a blend thereof, blended with an ionomer resin consisting essentially of a partially neutralized ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer, and the heat-sealable skin layer or layers bonded directly to the barrier layer are composed of copolymers of ethylene and an ester-containing comonomer. High resistance to delamination of the barrier layer and skin layer(s) is achieved without tie layers therebetween. Pouches formed of such multilayer chlorine-free films are also disclosed.

Abstract: A cleaning product comprises a base sheet and at least one layer of filaments or split yarns oriented in one direction, the base sheet and the layer are stacked and bonded together at a plurality of bonding lines extending in a direction intersecting with the one direction, and the base sheet is cut together with the layer intermittently in the intersecting direction between adjacent bonding lines to form cutting portions, thereby forming brushing portions with the layer. The cleaning product can be produced simply and conveniently at small cost. Further, it also has an excellent dust collecting effect.

Abstract: Tube comprising:(a) an inner layer essentially consisting of a copolyester obtained from at least one poly(alkylene oxide) glycol, 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid and 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol;(b) an interlayer essentially consisting of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer and/or of a copolymer containing at least one polyamide block and at least one poly(alkylene oxide) block; and(c) an outer layer essentially consisting of a copolyester obtained from at least one poly(alkylene oxide) glycol, 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid and 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol.This tube may advantageously be used in medical applications.

Abstract: A metal can body of improved impact resistance of the body wall is formed by drawing and/or pressing subsequent to preliminary coating of an organic resin on at least one side of the metal surface that becomes the inner surface of the can body. The main component of the organic resin coating is a polyester resin containing oriented crystals. The intrinsic viscosity (IV) of the polyester layer is 0.60 or higher. Parameter A representing the ratio of axial orientation in the direction of the can height is A.gtoreq.0.40. and Parameter B representing the degree of plane orientation of axially oriented crystals in the direction of the can height is B.gtoreq.0.00.

Abstract: A glass substrate for a magnetic disk of the present invention is one in which a laser beam is irradiated on a main surface thereby forming a large number of protrusions thereon to form texture thereon, each of said protrusions being formed by a protruded portion having a convex shape, said glass having a composition in which 0.2 to 3 wt % of an oxide of a transition metal is contained and an absorption coefficient with respect to a wavelength of a light at 266 nm being within a range of 0.03 to 2 .mu.m.sup.-1, and by setting the absorption coefficient of the glass with respect to a wavelength of a light at 266 nm within a range of 0.03 to 2 .mu.m.sup.-1 and irradiating a laser beam having a wavelength in a range of ultraviolet rays selectively on the main surface of a glass substrate at predetermined intervals, texture comprising a large number of protrusions formed by protruded portions each having a small diameter and a convex shape is formed.

Abstract: A multilayer industrial stretch film is provided with at least one cling layer and is formed by coextruding a film-formable polymer with a tackifier. The invention provides a multilayer film having at least two skin layers and at least one core layer in which at least one of the skin layers is derived from a mixture of the tackifier and the film-formable polymer. At least one of the core layers can include a vapor corrosion inhibitor (VCI). Beneficial results are obtained by also including a lubricating composition in at least one, if not both, skin layers when at least one of the core layers contains a VCI. The lubricant in the skin layer effectively reduces the extrusion temperature (for blown and cast films), and tends to avoid degrading or igniting the VCI.

Abstract: Pocket knife, having at least one side fabricated from a molded plastic material, includes a decorative element, for example a cross, inlaid flush with an outer surface of the side. The decorative element is stamped from a sheet of steel to provide a cross and a square frame which are positioned with respect to each other by two attachments. A greater portion of each attachment is pressed down, by stamping, from a curved first plane occupied by the cross and the frame to a lower second plane under the curved first plane. This greater portion is covered over by the molded plastic material. At least one portion of lateral flanks of the decorative element is disposed at an inclined angle in order to be partially covered over with the molded plastic material. Only one single operation is required for injecting the side of the pocket knife and for inlaying the decorative element in the outer surface of the side of the pocket knife.

Abstract: A sleeve label is fabricated from a sheet of polyethylene which is folded upon itself along two longitudinal fold lines with the overlying layers then being joined together along a seal line. The seal line is located so that the outer layer of the folded sheet forms an outer flap, which may be adhered to the body of the sleeve by a releasable adhesive strip. The outer flap can be printed to comprise a redeemable coupon, or it may be printed with detailed product information, or it may be configured to serve as a handle for the product. The label may also include a tubular header of small diameter, which can also serve as a coupon, or be printed with detailed product information, or configured to serve as a handle.

Abstract: A shock absorbing cushioning device suitable for products, objects and footwear which is comprised of a compressible insert encapsulated within an elastomeric barrier member. The elastomeric barrier member is secured to the compressible insert by a plurality of tensile members having a first portion embedded in the elastomeric material and a second portion embedded in the compressible insert. The elastomeric member is also filled with a fluid, preferably a compressible gas.