Abstract: A pressure sensor has a stem in which a pressure introduction hole into which a pressure medium is introduced and a diaphragm deformable according to the pressure of the pressure medium are formed, and a strain detecting element which is arranged on the diaphragm via an insulating film and being configured to output a detection signal according to the deformation of the diaphragm. The strain detecting element is configured to have a portion made of polysilicon. A low doping layer having a higher electrical resistivity than polysilicon and a higher crystallinity than the insulating film is arranged between the insulating film and the strain detecting element.

Abstract: A method for producing a silicon nitride honeycomb filter, which comprises heat-treating in a nitrogen atmosphere a green body comprising from 50 to 85 mass % of metal silicon particles having an average particle diameter of from 5 to 50 ?m, from 5 to 30 mass % of glass hollow particles having a softening temperature of from 400 to 1000° C. and from 10 to 20 mass % of an organic binder to convert metal silicon substantially to silicon nitride.

Abstract: A method for producing a silicon nitride honeycomb filter, which comprises heat-treating in a nitrogen atmosphere a green body comprising from 50 to 85 mass % of metal silicon particles having an average particle diameter of from 5 to 50 ?m, from 5 to 30 mass % of glass hollow particles having a softening temperature of from 400 to 1000° C. and from 10 to 20 mass % of an organic binder to convert metal silicon substantially to silicon nitride.

Abstract: A method for producing a silicon nitride filter, which comprises subjecting a molded product comprising from 35 to 58 mass % of metal silicon particles, from 30 to 62.5 mass % of organic polymer particles, from 0.3 to 10 mass % based on the content of the organic polymer particles of the following inorganic particles A and from 1 to 15 mass % based on the content of the metal silicon particles of the following inorganic particles B, to a heat treatment in nitrogen to substantially convert metal silicon into silicon nitride: inorganic particles A: inorganic particles of at least one member selected from the group consisting of an oxide, a hydroxide and a salt of an element selected from the group consisting of Si, Ti and Ce; inorganic particles B: inorganic particles of at least one member selected from the group consisting of an oxide, a hydroxide and a salt of an element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Y, La, Nd, Yb, Ca and Fe.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprising a polymer electrolyte made of an ion exchange membrane, catalyst layers disposed on both sides thereof and current collectors disposed on the outer sides thereof, wherein a solvent-soluble fluorine-containing polymer (preferably a polymer having a fluorine-containing aliphatic ring structure) having substantially no ion exchange groups, is incorporated in the current collectors. By the above construction, the current collectors can have a high water repellency for a long period of time, and the polymer electrolyte fuel cell can operate at a high output density constantly over a long period of time.

Abstract: A method for producing a silicon nitride honeycomb filter, which comprises heat-treating in a nitrogen atmosphere a green body comprising from 50 to 85 mass % of metal silicon particles having an average particle diameter of from 5 to 50 ?m, from 5 to 30 mass % of glass hollow particles having a softening temperature of from 400 to 1000° C. and from 10 to 20 mass % of an organic binder to convert metal silicon substantially to silicon nitride.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprising a plurality of membrane electrode assemblies laminated via separators, each assembly comprising a membrane-form polymer electrolyte and a pair of a fuel electrode and an air electrode facing each other via the electrolyte, wherein as the separator, a separator made of a metal/non-metal composite material, is used which has a fuel gas channel, an oxidant channel and a fluid channel for cooling, and at least side walls of the fluid channel for cooling are made of metal and at least faces which are in contact with the membrane electrode assemblies are made of non-metal. The separators are excellent in the dimensional stability and air-tightness and light in weight, and the polymer electrolyte fuel cell having such separators can maintain a high performance constantly for a long time.

Abstract: It is to provide an electrode/membrane assembly (8) for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, comprising, as an anode (6) and/or cathode (7), a gas diffusion electrode which comprises a gas diffusion layer (5, 5′) comprising a carbon cloth (1, 1′) and a water repellent carbon layer (2, 2′) formed on the surface of the carbon cloth, and a catalyst layer (3, 3′) containing a catalyst and a fluorocarbon sulfonic acid type ion exchange resin, formed on the gas diffusion layer, and which contains a solvent-soluble fluorine-containing polymer having substantially no ion exchange group, and comprising an ion exchange membrane (4) sandwiched therebetween and bonded to each other.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprising an ion exchange membrane, and a cathode and an anode facing each other via the ion exchange membrane, wherein the cathode comprises an ion exchange resin and an electrode catalyst having platinum or a platinum alloy deposited on a carbon support which has an average lattice spacing of (002) d002 calculated by the X-ray diffraction data, of from 0.340 to 0.362 nm, a microcrystallite size Lc of from 0.6 to 4 nm and a specific surface area of from 260 to 800 m2/g.

Abstract: A glass forming mold which comprises a substrate made of stainless steel and a coating comprising the following components formed as the outermost surface coating on the substrate: (1) from 40 to 94 wt % of nickel and/or cobalt as component A; (2) from 5 to 59 wt % of tungsten as component B; and (3) from 0.5 to 40 wt % of at least one transition element having a melting point of at least 2,200.degree. C. as component C.