Abstract: To simply and accurately detect initial dental caries without impairing the aesthetics, the detection material for initial dental caries contains 0.001 to 5% by weight of at least one dye selected from fluorescein sodium, fluorescein potassium, dibromofluorescein sodium, and dibromofluorescein potassium compounded in a solvent. It is preferred that the solvent is one member selected from water, ethanol, glycerin, isobutyl alcohol, ethyleneglycol, diethyleneglycol, triethyleneglycol, acetone, and propylene glycol, or a mixed solution of two or more of these members.

Abstract: A composite clay material with the interlayer distance sufficiently expanded by dispersing clay mineral in a low polar polymer on a molecular level and the method for producing the same, blend material and composite clay rubber material using the same and the production method thereof.The composite clay material is formed of a clay mineral rendered compatible with an organic material through ionic bonding to an organic onium ion having 6 or more carbon number and a main guest molecule having a polar group in its main chain and side chain and molecular length equal to or larger than that of said organic onium ion. The main guest molecule is incorporated at least partially into an interlayer section of the clay mineral which has a hydrogen bonding with the polar group of the main guest molecule. The main guest molecule preferably has a molecular weight ranging from about 100 to 100000.

Abstract: The resin composite of this invention comprises an organophilic clay and a polymer. The polymer is formed of two or more polymers at least one of which has a functional group, or the polymer is formed of a copolymer having a functional group. This structure provides the resin composite which can be easily made composite with a wide range of applications, and imparts the optimum physical properties to the composite.

Abstract: A composite clay material with the interlayer distance sufficiently expanded by dispersing clay mineral in a low polar polymer on a molecular level and the method for producing the same, blend material and composite clay rubber material using the same and the production method thereof. The composite clay material is formed of a clay mineral rendered compatible with an organic material through ionic bonding to an organic onium ion having 6 or more carbon number and a main guest molecule having a polar group in its main chain and side chain and molecular length equal to or larger than that of said organic onium ion. The main guest molecule is incorporated at least partially into an interlayer section of the clay mineral which has a hydrogen bonding with the polar group of the main guest molecule. The main guest molecule preferably has a molecular weight ranging from about 100 to 100000.

Abstract: A resin composite comprising an organophilic clay and an ionomer resin is provided. The organophilic clay is dispersed in the ionomer resin to have excellent mechanical properties. A method for producing a resin composite comprises the steps of adding an organophilic clay to an ionomer resin, melting the mixture of the clay and the ionomer resin by heating and shearing the mixture.

Abstract: An optical device employs a composite of a liquid crystalline substance and an orientation-sustaining material, such as a selected polymer, flat particles, or other material capable of sustaining the state of orientation of the liquid crystalline substance. The optical device has a memory function which is erased by the application of an electrical signal. External force for writing on the device generates local changes of the state of orientation of the liquid crystalline substance. The written display is memorized, and can be erased by the application of an electrical signal. When a two-frequency-driving liquid crystalline substance is used, the device has a long-term memory function. In this device, writing can be conducted at one frequency and erasure easily conducted at the other frequency. These optical devices can be used for light adjustment, display, and data storage.

Abstract: A composite clay material with the interlayer distance sufficiently expanded by dispersing clay mineral in a low polar polymer on a molecular level and the method for producing the same, blend material and composite clay rubber material using the same and the production method thereof.The composite clay material is formed of a clay mineral rendered compatible with an organic material through ionic bonding to an organic onium ion having 6 or more carbon number and a main guest molecule having a polar group in its main chain and side chain and molecular length equal to or larger than that of said organic onium ion. The main guest molecule is incorporated at least partially into an interlayer section of the clay mineral which has a hydrogen bonding with the polar group of the main guest molecule. The main guest molecule preferably has a molecular weight ranging from about 100 to 100000.

Abstract: A waveguide device having a waveguide layer provided with a core and a cladding, and having a mode filter function of propagating either of TE mode polarized light and TM mode polarized light, wherein the core and the cladding are formed of a variable anisotropic refractive index material or a material in which a variable anisotropic refractive index material is dispersed in a matrix. Upon photoirradiation, the refractive indices (n.sub.o, n.sub.e) of the core and the cladding can be changed to satisfy the formulae: one of n.sub.o and n.sub.e of the core is greater than that of the cladding, and the other of n.sub.o and n.sub.e of the core is less than or equal to that of the cladding, wherein n.sub.o is the ordinary refractive index and n.sub.e is the extraordinary refractive index. This waveguide device can be an important constitutional component in a compact optical system. A method of producing the waveguide device is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a composite material made of a rubber and a clay mineral dispersed uniformly therein. The method proceeds exchanging inorganic ions of the clay mineral with organic onium ions to organize the clay mineral; mixing the organized clay mineral and a process oil and/or a plasticizer; and mixing the rubber material with the mixture of the organized clay mineral and the process oil and/or the plasticizer. Process oil and/or plasticizer are intercalated into the organized clay mineral. As a result, the interlayer distance of the clay mineral is enlarged. The most favorable mode of the present invention is for a barrier material against water, gas and the like and for a rubber material required for an improved mechanical property.

Abstract: This invention provides liquid crystal compositions for light controlling materials of light scattering type having both memory and high speed response characteristics. The composition neither needs a temperature controlling device nor a device for imparting a shear stress as a memory erasing device, because the composition comprises a two-frequency addressing liquid crystal or such liquid crystal with an ionic component.The two-frequency addressing liquid crystal responds to an electric field and exhibits a positive dielectric anisotropy or a negative dielectric anisotropy depending on the frequency region of the electric field. Because the flat shaped particles of the present invention exhibit an affinity with the liquid crystal, the particles are dispersed in the liquid crystal and form liquid crystal domains effectively.

Abstract: A complex crystal is composed of anion of triiodine and cation of a fused compound consisting essentially of at least one nitrogen atom and at least 3 aromatic fused rings. Since the complex crystal has such a stable structure, it shows excellent heat resistance and excellent moisture resisting property. Furthermore, the complex crystal has light-polarizing performance because of an arrangement of the molecular chain of iodine. Moreover, the complex crystal exhibits excellent polarization because of an interaction between the fused compound and iodine. Therefore, the complex crystal is suitable for use as light-adjusting particles of a light valve or a light-adjusting glass.

Abstract: A porous material composed of many SiO.sub.4 tetrahedra sheets having interlayer bridges of SiO.sub.2. It has pores having a diameter of 10 .ANG. or above, and possesses the properties of a solid acid formed by the isomorphous substitution of metal atoms for Si of SiO.sub.4 frameworks. It is made by a process including introducing an organic substance into interlayer space of crystals of layered silicates to expand the spacing between crystal layers, as well as forming bridges of SiO.sub.2 therebetween, bringing the intercalated compounds into contact with a metal salt to link metal atoms to the SiO.sub.4 frameworks, and firing the products. The material can withstand a temperature of 800.degree. C., has a pore diameter larger than that of zeolites, etc., and is useful in making an adsorbent or catalyst for molecules having a high molecular weight, such as a catalyst for the catalytic cracking of petroleum.

Abstract: The invention is to provide elastomer-like or rubber-like, recyclable cross-linked polymers capable of being liquefied and re-molded repeatedly without detracting from the physical properties of the polymers. The polymer comprises meltable cross-linked oligomer units and linkage units via which the oligomer units are linked to construct the main chains of the polymer. Each linkage unit in the polymer comprises a chemical bond that can be cleaved and re-formed repeatedly by predetermined treatment by which the bond between monomers in the oligomer units are not cleaved. The method for producing the polymer comprises a step of forming oligomer units by polymerizing monomers, a step of forming linkage units by linking the oligomer units via linkage units and a step of forming cross-linked units between the oligomer units.

Abstract: A complex crystal is composed of anion of triiodine and cation of a fused compound consisting essentially of at least one nitrogen atom and at least 3 aromatic fused rings. Since the complex crystal has such a stable structure, it shows excellent heat resistance and excellent moisture resisting property. Furthermore, the complex crystal has light-polarizing performance because of an arrangement of the molecular chain of iodine. Moreover, the complex crystal exhibits excellent polarization because of an interaction between the fused compound and iodine. Therefore, the complex crystal is suitable for use as light-adjusting particles of a light valve or a light-adjusting glass.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition comprising a liquid crystal and a second substance dispersed therein, the second substance having affinity for the liquid crystal and being composed of particles having a particle size and an aspect ratio of a predetermined value or greater, and a liquid crystal composition comprising a liquid crystal containing electric field sensitive liquid crystal molecules having a positive dielectric anisotropy as the principal component and flat plate-shaped particles having affinity for the liquid crystal being dispersed therein at such a degree of density suitable for effectively forming liquid crystal domains. Also described are a liquid crystal device using the same, a light-controlling element, a recording medium, and a light shutter.

Abstract: A recyclable polymer is formed of a plurality of oligomer units obtained by polymerizing a fixed number of monomers, and linkage units for linking the oligomer units through a chemical bond which is different from a bond between monomers constituting the oligomer units, thereby allowing repetitive scission and re-bonding of the linkage units by a predetermined treatment not cleaving the bond between monomers. The recyclable polymer is decomposable into oligomers and the oligomers can be linked again into the original polymer without degrading the quality of the polymer. A process for producing the recyclable polymer, a method for recovering the recyclable polymer, and a method for regenerating the recyclable polymer are also provided.

Abstract: A layered inorganic-organic polymer having the features of both inorganic and organic materials and a coating material produced therefrom. The former is produced, for example, by reacting an organoalkoxysilane having alkoxyl groups and organic groups with a metal salt or alkoxide in an alkaline solution. This reaction yields a layered inorganic-organic polymer composed of one or two sheets of tetrahedrons with a central atom of Si or a metal and a sheet of octahedrons with a central atom of a metal, part or all of the central atoms of the tetrahedrons being covalently bonded to organic groups. If the organic group is one which contains a functional group capable of polymerization, the resulting layered inorganic-organic polymer may be polymerized with a functional group to give a firm coating material. The functional group of the organic group may be bonded to an organic compound.

Abstract: A method for detecting stresses includes the steps of dispersing a fluorescent substance in a solid portion where stresses are to be detected, measuring fluorescence decay time of the fluorescent substance dispersed in the solid portion, and detecting stresses in the solid portion based on the measured fluorescence decay time. The method enables to non-destructively detect stresses in resin-molded products without impairing their mechanical properties.

Abstract: A variable-modulus material is composed of a polymer whose constituent unit is a thiophene or pyrrole molecule having from one to three C.sub.4-12 alkyl side chains, or a copolymer whose constituent unit is the thiophene or pyrrole molecule and which includes in a main chain thereof a conjugated compound with a K-electron bond directly bonded to the above molecule, and at least one additive (in an amount of 0.5-20 wt % of said polymer) selected from halogens, protonic acids, and transition metal halides. It greatly decreases in modulus upon application of an electric field as low as 5-150 V/mm and restores its original modulus upon removal of the electric field. It is suitable for use as vibration dampers and shock absorbers.

Abstract: Composite material with high mechanical strength and excellent high-temperature characteristics comprising a polymer matrix containing polyamide and layers of a silicate uniformly dispersed in the order of molecules in the polymer matrix, each of said silicate layers being 7 to 12 Å thick and the interlayer distance being at least 20 Å; and a process for manufacturing such composite material.