Abstract: A particulate matter detecting apparatus (100) includes a detecting apparatus main body having a cavity (2) that is formed through the detecting apparatus main body, a particle charging section (3) that can charge particulate matter that has entered the cavity through an inflow-side end (6) of the cavity, a collection section (4) that can collect the particulate matter charged by the particle charging section (3) and measure the amount of the particulate matter, and an ion wind generation section (5) that allows the particulate matter charged by the particle charging section (3) to flow toward an outflow-side end (7) of the cavity, the particle charging section, the collection section (4), and the ion wind generation section (5) being provided inside the cavity in this order from the inflow-side end (6). The particulate matter detecting apparatus has a reduced size, shows only a small measurement error, and can be produced inexpensively.

Abstract: A plasma reactor is provided with two or more plasma generating electrodes which are installed in series inside a gas passage in a casing, with each plasma generating electrode being electrically controlled independently. The surface area of the conductor on each unit electrode forming the plasma generating electrode installed on the upstream side of the gas passage is smaller than the surface area of the conductor on the unit electrode forming the plasma generating electrode installed on the downstream side of the gas passage. Plasma can be generated between each of the unit electrodes by supplying each of the plasma generating electrodes with independently controlled electric power. The plasma reactor can efficiently react specific components contained in the gas passing through the gas passage.

Abstract: A particulate matter detecting apparatus (100) includes a detecting apparatus main body having a cavity (2) that is formed through the detecting apparatus main body, a particle charging section (3) that can charge particulate matter that has entered the cavity through an inflow-side end (6) of the cavity, a collection section (4) that can collect the particulate matter charged by the particle charging section (3) and measure the amount of the particulate matter, and an ion wind generation section (5) that allows the particulate matter charged by the particle charging section (3) to flow toward an outflow-side end (7) of the cavity, the particle charging section, the collection section (4), and the ion wind generation section (5) being provided inside the cavity in this order from the inflow-side end (6). The particulate matter detecting apparatus has a reduced size, shows only a small measurement error, and can be produced inexpensively.

Abstract: A plasma generating electrode capable of generating plasma with a high energy level by using a small amount of electric power is provided. The plasma generating electrode includes at least a pair of unit electrodes including a unit electrode as an anode and a unit electrode as a cathode, and can generate plasma by applying voltage, the unit electrode as an anode and the unit electrode as a cathode being disposed facing each other, and at least the unit electrode as an anode having a plate-like ceramic dielectric and a conductive film disposed in the ceramic dielectric, wherein the unit electrode as a cathode can emit secondary electrons in a number five times or greater than the number of cations (primary particles) which it receives when the cations produced in the process of plasma generation collide therewith.

Abstract: A plasma generation electrode capable of subjecting predetermined components contained in a fluid to be treated to their respective reaction treatments with plasmas having different intensities optimized on a reaction basis, by passing merely once the fluid to be treated, is provided. In the plasma generation electrode, a unit electrode is composed of a tabular ceramic material serving as a dielectric material and an electrically conductive film disposed in the inside of the ceramic material, a plurality of unit electrodes are layered at a constant spacing, the distance between the electrically conductive films disposed in the unit electrodes adjacent to each other is varied partly or the dielectric constant of the ceramic material constituting the unit electrode is varied partly, and plasmas having different intensities can be generated partly in the spaces.

Abstract: A ceramic green sheet containing 100 parts by mass of a cordierite powder having an average particle diameter of 1.0 to 5.0 ?m and a BET specific surface area of 4.0 to 10.0 m2/g and 14.0 to 19.0 parts by mass of a binder. The ceramic green sheet is preferred to further contain 0.5 to 2.5 parts by mass of a dispersing agent and 5.0 to 9.0 parts by mass of a plasticizer relative to 100 parts by mass of the cordierite powder. The ceramic green sheet can be made, by firing, into a tape-shaped ceramic formed body which is dense and superior in thermal sock resistance.

Abstract: There is provided a production process of a sheet-like dense cordierite sintered body which hardly generates cracks when dried and sintered, and has excellent formability. A production process of a sheet-like dense cordierite sintered body which has a step of forming a raw material containing cordierite powders having an average particle size of greater than 2 ?m but not greater than 4 ?m into a cordierite green sheet; and sintering the cordierite green sheet at from 1350 to 1450° C.

Abstract: A plasma generation electrode capable of subjecting predetermined components contained in a fluid to be treated to their respective reaction treatments with plasmas having different intensities optimized on a reaction basis, by passing merely once the fluid to be treated, is provided. In the plasma generation electrode, a unit electrode is composed of a tabular ceramic material serving as a dielectric material and an electrically conductive film disposed in the inside of the ceramic material, a plurality of unit electrodes are layered at a constant spacing, the distance between the electrically conductive films disposed in the unit electrodes adjacent to each other is varied partly or the dielectric constant of the ceramic material constituting the unit electrode is varied partly, and plasmas having different intensities can be generated partly in the spaces.

Abstract: A plasma generating electrode capable of generating plasma with a high energy level by using a small amount of electric power is provided. The plasma generating electrode includes at least a pair of unit electrodes including a unit electrode as an anode and a unit electrode as a cathode, and can generate plasma by applying voltage, the unit electrode as an anode and the unit electrode as a cathode being disposed facing each other, and at least the unit electrode as an anode having a plate-like ceramic dielectric and a conductive film disposed in the ceramic dielectric, wherein the unit electrode as a cathode can emit secondary electrons in a number five times or greater than the number of cations (primary particles) which it receives when the cations produced in the process of plasma generation collide therewith.

Abstract: A plasma reactor is provided with two or more plasma generating electrodes which are installed in series inside a gas passage in a casing, with each plasma generating electrode being electrically controlled independently. The surface area of the conductor on each unit electrode forming the plasma generating electrode installed on the upstream side of the gas passage is smaller than the surface area of the conductor on the unit electrode forming the plasma generating electrode installed on the downstream side of the gas passage. Plasma can be generated between each of the unit electrodes by supplying each of the plasma generating electrodes with independently controlled electric power. The plasma reactor can efficiently react specific components contained in the gas passing through the gas passage.