Abstract: A fuel cell separator which is low in cost and high in hydrophilicity and electrical conductivity and a process for producing the fuel cell separator. The fuel cell separator is characterized in that by using a starting material for a fuel cell separator subjected to a hydrophilization treatment in a hydrophilizing gas, the surface contact angle of the fuel cell separator as measured by a sessile drop method using water is in a range of 3 to 70°; and the process of the present invention for producing a fuel cell separator is characterized in that a starting material for the fuel cell separator after molding or machining is subjected to a hydrophilization treatment in a hydrophilizing gas and thereby the surface contact angle of the fuel cell separator as measured by a sessile drop method using water is controlled at 3 to 70°.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a fuel cell separator having gas supply grooves on one side or both sides thereof which is molded from a composition composed mainly of an electrically conductive carbon powder and a binding agent, wherein the electrically conductive carbon powder is present such that its particles longer than 70 ?m at maximum in the major axis direction and longer than 30 ?m at maximum in the minor axis direction along the vertical cross section of the fuel cell separator occupy more than 50% of the sectional area in the vertical direction, a process for production of the separator, and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell.

Abstract: A separator for a fuel cell, having a film on the surface, wherein the film has a water-holdability of 0.3 to 5.0 g per g of the film, or the film has a pore volume of 0.5 to 0.9 cc per cc of the film, and a thickness of 0.5 to 300 ?m. The fuel cell separator is superior in hydrophilicity and water-holding property, and has at the same time low electrical resistance.

Abstract: A separator for fuel cell, formed using a base material obtained from a composition comprising at least a binder, a powdery carbon filler having an average particle diameter of 10 nm to 100 ?m, and a short fiber having an average fiber length of 0.03 to 6 mm, in which composition the amount ratio of the above three components is such that the amount of the powdery carbon filler is 200 to 800 parts by weight and the amount of the short fiber is 10 to 300 parts by weight, both per 100 parts by weight of the binder.

Abstract: A novel therapeutic agent for hyperlipidemia, which is an ester compound represented by the formula (1?) (wherein R1 and R2 are each hydrogen atom or optionally substituted aryl, etc.; X is —COO— or —CON(R10)—; R3 and R4 are each hydrogen atom, C1-C6alkyl or C1-C6alkoxy, etc.; R5, R6 and R7 are each hydrogen atom, C1-C6 alkyl or C1-C6 alkoxy, etc.; R8 and R9 are each independently hydrogen atom, C1-C6alkyl, —CON(R18)(R19) or —COO(R20), etc.; ring A, ring B and ring C are each independently aryl or heterocycle residue, etc.; Alk1 and Alk2 are each independently alkanediyl, etc.; l and m are each an integer of 0 or 1 to 3) or a prodrug thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of either. The therapeutic agent selectively inhibits MTP in the small intestine, thus causes no such side effect as a fatty liver.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel cell separator molded from a fuel cell separator composition mainly containing a conductive material and a binder, characterized in that said separator is specified such that after 3.5 g of a test piece cut from said fuel cell separator is put in 305 mL of pure water and the water is heated at 90° C. for 500 hr, an electric conductivity of the water is 50 &mgr;S/cm or less. The fuel cell separator thus obtained is effective to reduce elution of ions and exhibit a high moldability and a high dimensional stability. Further, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell using the fuel cell separators is effective to exhibit a stable output without reduction in output during operation and enhance the operational efficiency.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an electrically conductive resinous composition composed mainly of an electrically conductive carbon powder and a binding agent, wherein said binding agent is a mixture of a thermoplastic resin and a carbodiimide compound, a fuel cell separator and a process for production thereof, and polymer electrolyte fuel cell. The present invention permits efficient mass production of fuel cell separators having high elasticity, good releasability, good dimensional accuracy, and good gas impermeability. The polymer electrolyte fuel cell, in which all or part of separators are those pertaining to the present invention, is immune to the cracking of separators at the time of assembling, decreases only a little in output after continuous operation, and exhibits good gas sealing performance and high impact resistance.

Abstract: Compounds, compositions and methods are provided that are useful in the treatment or prevention of a condition or disorder mediated by PPAR&ggr;. In particular, the compounds of the invention modulate the function of PPAR&ggr;. The subject methods are particularly useful in the treatment and/or prevention of diabetes, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method of producing a fuel cell separator. In this method, dry granules of a composition for a fuel cell separator mainly containing a conductive material, a binder, and an additive are produced by mixing raw materials including at least the conductive material, the binder, and the additive, granulating the resultant mixture to obtain granules, and drying the granules. The dry granules may be further sized. Then, the granules are packed in a mold, and hot-press molded. This method is characterized in that the granules have a residual volatile matter content in a range of 4 wt % or less, and an average particle size in a range of 200 to 700 &mgr;m (60 to 160 &mgr;m for the sized granules) and a specific particle size distribution. With this method, a fuel cell separator having a high elasticity, an excellent dimensional accuracy, and a high gas non-permeability can be produced with no molding failures, accordingly, with a uniform quality.

Abstract: A method of producing a fuel cell separator in which dry granules of a composition for a fuel cell separator mainly containing a conductive material, a binder, and an additive are produced by mixing raw materials including at least the conductive material, the binder, and the additive, granulating the resultant mixture to obtain granules, and drying the granules. The dry granules may be further sized. Then the granules are packed in a mold and hot-press molded. The granules have a residual volatile matter content in a range of 4 weight-% or less, and an average particle size in a range of 200 to 700 &mgr;m (60 to 160 &mgr;m for the sized granules) and a specific particle size distribution.

Abstract: A fuel cell separator composition containing an electrically conductive carbonaceous powder and a binder that is a mixture of a thermoset resin with a polyoxazine compound having a plurality of oxazine rings can be used to efficiently mass-produce high-modulus fuel cell separators of excellent dimensional stability and gas impermeability. By employing such fuel cell separators as some or all of the separators in a solid polymer fuel cell, there can be obtained solid polymer fuel cells which are not subject to cracking or breakage during assembly, have good gas sealing properties, and are endowed with excellent vibration and impact resistance.

Abstract: A carbonaceous composite material molded from a carbonaceous composite compound composed mainly of graphite, a thermosetting resin, and a fibrous base material, wherein molding is carried out in such a way that said fibrous base material is oriented in said carbonaceous composite material; a process for producing said carbonaceous composite material; a fuel cell separator having said carbonaceous composite material as a component; and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. The carbonaceous composite material can be produced by injection molding, transfer molding or extrusion molding without difficulties encountered in the past. It has high strength, with a minimum amount of warpage. It contributes to productivity.

Abstract: A carbonaceous composite material molded from a carbonaceous composite compound composed mainly of graphite, a thermosetting resin, and a fibrous base material, wherein molding is carried out in such a way that said fibrous base material is oriented in said carbonaceous composite material; a process for producing said carbonaceous composite material; a fuel cell separator having said carbonaceous composite material as a component; and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. The carbonaceous composite material can be produced by injection molding, transfer molding or extrusion molding without difficulties encountered in the past. It has high strength, with a minimum amount of warpage. It contributes to productivity.

Abstract: Compounds, compositions and methods are provided that are useful in the treatment or prevention of a condition or disorder mediated by PPAR&ggr;. In particular, the compounds of the invention modulate the function of PPAR&ggr;. The subject methods are particularly useful in the treatment and/or prevention of diabetes, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis.

Abstract: Fuel cell separators having on one side or both sides thereof channels for gas supply and discharge, which channels are formed from compositions composed mainly of thermosetting resin and graphite particles. The compositions are designed to have a flexural modulus of at most 20 GPa and a flexural strength of at least 50 MPa (both measured according to JIS K6911). Also disclosed is a solid polymer type fuel cell system in which part or all of its separators are fuel cell separators as defined above. Due to its high strength and low flexural modulus, the fuel cell separators of the invention do not break as a result of deformation at the time of fuel cell assembly. Moreover, the fuel cell separators of the invention absorb shocks and vibration imparted to the fuel cell system. Therefore, they is useful for automobile fuel cells which are normally subject to vibrations and shocks during operation.

Abstract: Compounds, compositions and methods are provided that are useful in the treatment or prevention of a condition or disorder mediated by PAPAR&ggr;. In particular, the compounds of the invention modulate the function of PAPAR&ggr;. The subject methods are particularly useful in the treatment and/or prevention of diabetes, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis.

Abstract: A mold for producing a fuel cell separator with which a flash, even if it occurs, does not cause a thickness unevenness. The mold includes a plurality of molds 2, 4 and 10, and a fuel cell molding cavity 5 for separator being defined among the molds. At least one of the molds is provided with a flash reservoir cavity 11 which is communicated with the cavity 5. An amount of material in excess of the volume of the cavity 5 is charged, and melted by the application of pressure and heat. The melted material fills up the entire cavity 5, with the excess thereof entering the cavity 11. Since the molds 2 and 10 maintain a direct contact with each other, it is possible to obtain a separator molded with a high accuracy.

Abstract: A system and method for producing fuel cell separators can produce fuel cell separators with high contact performance. The fuel cell separator production system includes an upper mold which has a pattern corresponding to a pattern of gas passages for one surface of a fuel cell separator, a lower mold which has a pattern corresponding to a pattern of gas passages for other surface of the fuel cell separator, one or more nozzles which spray a gas on the periphery of the fuel cell separator on the lower mold, and a suction device which horizontally advances and retracts in a space between the upper mold and the lower mold and removes the fuel cell separator from the lower mold. The nozzles and the suction device are formed independently from the upper mold and the lower mold.

Abstract: The present invention alleviates the problems of the prior art, and provides a fuel cell separator which is low in cost and high in hydrophilicity and electrical conductivity and a process for producing the fuel cell separator.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a fuel cell separator having gas supply grooves on one side or both sides thereof which is molded from a composition composed mainly of an electrically conductive carbon powder and a binding agent, wherein the electrically conductive carbon powder is present such that its particles longer than 70 &mgr;n at maximum in the major axis direction and longer than 30 &mgr;m at maximum in the minor axis direction along the vertical cross section of the fuel cell separator occupy more than 50% of the sectional area in the vertical direction, a process for production of the separator, and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell.