Abstract: A material with variable viscoelasticity is composed of an electrically insulating polymeric material, and fine particles dispersed therein and capable of electric polarization under an applied electric field. The particles may, for example, be of a conjugated and unsaturated organic compound, a polyelectrolyte, or an organometallic complex salt. The material is capable of a reversible change of viscoelasticity depending on the intensity of the applied electric field.

Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying catalyst is characterized in that at least one kind of catalyst metal is loaded on a layered porous silica or a layered porous silica-metal oxide. The exhaust gas purifying catalyst is used as an oxidation catalyst for purifying hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide, or a reduction catalyst for purifying nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.x), which is suitable for purifying exhaust gases in automobiles. An exhaust gas purifying apparatus includes the above exhaust gas purifying catalyst and an absorbent for trapping hydrocarbon components, in which aromatic HC such as trimethylbenzene and the like are effectively trapped.

Abstract: A fuel absorbent is provided in which polymer particles having a fuel absorbing ability are contained or dispersed in a binder matrix permeable to fuel. The fuel permeates the binder and is absorbed by the polymer particles. A process is provided for making the fuel absorbent by mixing polymer particles having fuel absorbing ability with a binder dissolved in a solvent, to thereby obtain a dispersion mixture having the polymer particles dispersed therein. The dispersion mixture is then dried to cause the polymer particles to be dispersed in a matrix of the binder. The fuel absorbent has excellent durability and fuel absorbing/desorbing ability.

Abstract: A fuel-sorbing device excellent in sorbing evaporated fuel includes a sorbent of layered porous silica for capturing evaporated fuel and a container which houses the sorbent and into which the evaporated fuel is introduced. The layered porous silica is composed of a plurality of superposed sheets made of a framework of SiO.sub.2. Adjacent sheets are partly bonded each other to form a three-dimensional framework having a large number of pores. The sorbent can be used in combination with an organic polymer sorbent, so as to sorb evaporated fuel in two stages.

Abstract: A heat resistant layered porous silica having a honeycomb porous structure comprises a plurality of waved or bent sheet layers of crystalline layered silicate superposed one after another, and the neighboring sheets are partially bonded by siloxane bonding. The spacing between the neighboring sheet layers is narrowed toward the bonded portions and expanded at other portions to thereby form fine pores. The layered porous silica contains alkali metal ions in an amount of 0.2% by weight or less and has a specific surface area of 1,000 m.sup.2 /g or more.The layered porous silica has a large specific surface area, and exhibits an excellent heat resistance and adsorption of organic substances such as fuel.

Abstract: Star-shaped nylons with low melt viscosities and excellent mechanical properties, methods for their preparation, a novel tetrasubstituted carboxylic acid for use as a polymerization core therefor and methods for its preparation are provided.A star-shaped nylon has polymer chains emanating from 3 or more polymerization initiation groups which are substituents bonded to every other or more separated carbon atoms on an aromatic ring of an aromatic compound. The star-shaped nylon is produced by homogeneously mixing the aromatic compound with molten nylon monomer and polymerizing the nylon monomer with the respective polymerization initiation groups as the starting points. A novel tetrasubstituted carboxylic acid having a structure of 3,5,3',5'-biphenyltetracarboxylic acid is useful as a polymerization core for star-shaped nylons.

Abstract: An evaporation loss control device provided with a polymer chamber filled with polymer absorbent, a charcoal chamber filled with charcoal, introduction and purging pipes for connecting the polymer chamber with a fuel tank and an engine intake passage, respectively, an air pipe for ventilation connected to the charcoal chamber, and a vapor passage, which has various forms. For example, the vapor passage may be formed in spiral to encircle the polymer chamber, or provided between the polymer and charcoal chambers, thus allowing the evaporated fuel to pass therethrough. The vapor passage is constructed to prevent the evaporated fuel trapped by the polymer absorbent from flowing into the charcoal chamber, and also to prevent the liquid fuel from being absorbed by the charcoal.

Abstract: A process for preparing a polyamide composite material comprising (1) contacting a layered silicate having a cation exchange capacity of 50 to 200 milliequivalents/100 g with an organic cation of a lactam which is a swelling agent in a dispersing medium, thereby obtaining a composite having the organic cation of the lactam adsorbed onto the layered silicate, and mixing the composite with a polyamide monomer; or (2) mixing a layered silicate having a cation exchange capacity of 50 to 200 milliequivalents/100 g with a compound which becomes a swelling agent through the action of an acid, a polyamide monomer and acid with pKa value of 0 to 3 in a dispersing medium. The mixture containing the polyamide monomer is polymerized to prepare the polyamide composite material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polyamide resin composition comprising: (A) at least one of the group consisting of a polyamide resin and a resin composition containing a polyamide resin; (B) a layered silicate uniformly dispersed in the above component (A); and at least one selected from the group consisting of (C) an impact resistance improving material and (D) a polyphenylene ether type resin. The resin composition of this invention has excellent moldability, and the molded product of the resin composition has excellent heat resistance, rigidity and impact resistance.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a polyimide composite material which comprises a polyimide-containing resin and a layered clay mineral which is intercalated with organic onium ions and dispersed in the polyimide. Owing to the intercalated clay mineral, the composite material has improved gas and water vapor barrier properties and a small thermal expansion coefficient. Disclosed also herein is a process for producing a polyimide composite material which comprises the steps of intercalating a layered clay mineral with organic onium ions, adding by mixing the intercalated clay mineral to a solution of a monomer or prepolymer for polyimide, removing the solvent, and forming a polyimide. This process makes the layered clay mineral miscible with and dispersible in polyimide.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polyamide composite material comprising (A) 100 parts by weight of a polyamide resin and (B) 0.05 to 30 parts by weight of a layered silicate uniformly dispersed in the component (A), wherein the reaction ratio of the components (A) and (B) is 60% or less. Disclosed is also a method for preparing a polyamide composite material comprising making a composite in which a layered silicate, with a cation exchange capacity of 50 to 200 milliequivalents/100 g, is in the swelling condition in a dispersion medium; and mixing the composite with a polyamide resin.

Abstract: Provided herein is a composite material which comprises a polyamide-containing resin, a layered silicate dispersed therein, and a substance such as polyamine which controls the crystalline structure or molecular structure of the resin. The composite material has improved mechanical strength and toughness and high clarity or transparency.

Abstract: Provided herein is a process for producing a composite material composed of a polymer and the layered silicate constituting the clay mineral being connected to the polymer through ionic bonding. The process comprises contacting a layered clay mineral with a swelling agent in the presence of a dispersion medium, thereby forming a complex, mixing said complex containing said dispersion medium with a monomer, and polymerizing said monomer contained in said mixture. The process permits the economical and efficient production of a composite material in which the layered silicate is uniformly dispersed.

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 .ANG. thick and the interlayer distance being at least 20 .ANG.; and a process for manufacturing such composite material.

Abstract: A vesicular image is prepared by contacting an original with a vesicular photograhic element, wherein the element contains a decomposing photosensitive material; and irradiating said element with light containing infrared light from the element side of said contacted image and element.