Abstract: A fuel cell of the present invention has a membrane-electrode assembly including a cathode, an anode, and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane disposed between the cathode and the anode. The cathode includes a cathode catalyst layer and a cathode diffusion layer. The cathode catalyst layer is facing the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. The anode includes an anode catalyst layer and an anode diffusion layer. The anode catalyst layer is facing the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. Between the cathode catalyst layer and the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, a cathode protective layer is formed, and between the anode catalyst layer and the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, an anode protective layer is formed. Both of the cathode protective layer and the anode protective layer include a polymer electrolyte and water-repellent particles. The cathode and anode protective layers are formed to cover cracks in the cathode catalyst layer and the anode catalyst layer.

Abstract: For give a direct methanol fuel cell which secures the fuel supply to the catalyst layer, reliably discharge generated carbon dioxide gas, and has excellent electricity generation ability, at least a portion of the anode side flow path is divided by a film having water-repellency and gas permeability to a first flow path portion positioned at the membrane electrode assembly side and a second flow path portion positioned at the bottom side of the anode side flow path where a fuel mainly flows in the first flow path portion and carbon dioxide mainly flows in the second flow path portion.

Abstract: Disposable paper eating utensil enabling most of the utensil-constituent paper to be recycled. A blank composed of at least one thin ply laminated onto a thick ply is inserted between the core and cavity of a compression mold and molded into the utensil. The molding process clenches corrugations produced in the thin ply into corrugated portions of the thick ply, produced in the rising sidewall surfaces of the utensil, yielding a paper eating utensil of not readily separable two-ply construction. The eating utensil thus obtained can contain foodstuffs bearing liquid condiments, and after the utensil has been used the thin ply can be separated from the thick ply and disposed of as soiled waste, while the thick ply portion discarded as recyclable waste.

Abstract: A direct methanol fuel cell of the present invention includes a unit cell having an electrolyte membrane, an anode on one surface of the electrolyte membrane, and a cathode on the other surface of the electrolyte membrane. The anode includes an anode catalyst layer and an anode diffusion layer. The anode catalyst layer is in contact with a surface of the electrolyte membrane. The anode diffusion layer is in contact with a surface of the anode catalyst layer opposite to the surface of the anode catalyst layer in contact with the electrolyte membrane. A methanol flux value JGDL of the anode diffusion layer and a methanol flux value JPEM of the electrolyte membrane satisfy the following relations: JGDL=1×10?5 to 5×10?4 mol/(cm2·min.),??(i) and JPEM×JGDL?1×10?8 [mol/(cm2·min.)]2.

Abstract: Disclosed is a milling and classifying apparatus, adapted to produce toner fine particles, comprising a collision mill, and an air classifier, wherein the collision mill comprises a jet nozzle room, a path, a collision plate, and a collision member mounted to a support of the collision plate at downstream of the collision plate, the air classifier comprises a dispersion room and a classification room, the classification room is disposed below the dispersion room, and a flow stabilizer is arranged at a central suction of the separator core to control swirl stream generated within the classification room so as to centrifuge the powder into coarse particles and fine particles by action of the swirl stream.

Abstract: A method for activating a direct oxidation fuel cell including an anode, a cathode, and a proton-conductive electrolyte membrane interposed between the anode and the cathode is provided. The anode and the cathode each have a catalyst layer on a face in contact with the proton-conductive electrolyte membrane. This method activates the fuel cell by passing a current through the fuel cell from an external power source, with the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the external power source connected to the anode and the cathode of the fuel cell, respectively, while supplying an organic fuel and an inert gas to the anode and the cathode, respectively.

Abstract: To prevent the flooding phenomenon at the cathode in a unit cell where the temperature is relatively low or the supply of air is small, a fuel cell stack includes at least three flat unit cells stacked with separators interposed therebetween, the unit cells comprising an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte membrane sandwiched therebetween, and having an oxidant channel formed on the surface of the separator adjacent to the cathode, and the anode and the cathode comprising a catalyst layer attached to the electrolyte membrane and a diffusion layer, wherein the cross-sectional area of the inlet side of the oxidant channel, the area of the cathode catalyst layer, the thickness of the electrolyte membrane or the amount of a water repellent contained in the combination of the cathode and the oxidant channel is the largest in at least one of the unit cells at the ends of the stack.

Abstract: In order to prevent the crossover of an organic fuel such as methanol in a fuel cell and to exhibit excellent electricity generation characteristics without impairing the utilization efficiency of the fuel, at least either of (1) a discontinuous catalyst layer being formed on a surface of an anode catalyst layer and having a higher density (existence probability) of platinum type catalyst than the anode catalyst layer and (2) an electrolyte polymer layer is formed at the interface between the anode catalyst layer and a polymer electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a dilute tank that stores an aqueous solution of liquid fuel and supplies the solution to the anode of a fuel cell; a fuel tank connected to the dilute tank via a first controlling section; a water tank connected to the dilute tank via a second controlling section; and controlling means including a current detector which measures the amount of the fuel consumed by the fuel cell from the amount of power generation. The controlling means controls the first controlling section based on the measured amount of fuel consumption and further includes correcting means for measuring a component of a gas discharged from the cathode, calculating the amount of the fuel which has crossed over from the anode to the cathode based on the measured component, and correcting the measured amount of fuel consumption based on the calculated amount of fuel crossover.

Abstract: A toner including toner particles including at least a binder resin having a first melting point and a first solubility parameter, a colorant and a particulate release agent having a second melting point lower than the first melting point and a second solubility parameter different from the first solubility parameter, wherein the particulate release agent dispersed in the toner particles has an average needle-shape degree LD/SD of not less than 1.6, where LD is a diameter of a particle of the release agent dispersed in the toner in a major axis direction thereof and SD is a diameter of the particle in a minor axis direction.

Abstract: The refrigerating apparatus of the invention has a scroll compressor having a compressing section sucking and compressing a hydrofluorocarbon-based refrigerant, a condenser and the like, in which a plain bearing slidably supporting a driving shaft driving the compressing section of the scroll compressor is made of a material containing lead, and an ether oil miscible with the refrigerant used in a refrigerant circuit is used as a lubricant for lubricating the plain bearing.

Abstract: The refrigerating apparatus of the invention has a scroll compressor having a compressing section sucking and compressing a hydrofluorocarbon-based refrigerant, a condenser and the like, in which a plain bearing slidably supporting a driving shaft driving the compressing section of the scroll compressor is made of a material containing lead, and an ether oil miscible with the refrigerant used in a refrigerant circuit is used as a lubricant for lubricating the plain bearing.

Abstract: The refrigerating apparatus of the invention has a scroll compressor having a compressing section sucking and compressing a hydrofluorocarbon-based refrigerant, a condenser and the like, in which a plain bearing slidably supporting a driving shaft driving the compressing section of the scroll compressor is made of a material containing lead, and an ether oil miscible with the refrigerant used in a refrigerant circuit is used as a lubricant for lubricating the plain bearing.

Abstract: A ferromagnetic metal thin film recording medium having a nonmagnetic substrate, a ferromagnetic metal thin film formed on the nonmagnetic substrate, a dry etched layer which is formed in a surface layer of the ferromagnetic metal thin film and contains oxygen atoms in a higher concentration than the remaining part of the ferromagnetic metal thin film, a hard carbonaceous film formed on the dry etched layer of the ferromagnetic metal thin film, a lubricant layer formed on said hard carbonaceous film, and optionally a modified layer which is formed on the hard carbonaceous film and has a thickness of less than 3 nm, and comprises carbon, nitrogen and oxygen atoms with an atomic ratio of nitrogen to carbon being at least 0.8%, which recording medium has improved running stability, durability and weatherability while maintaining electromagnetic conversion characteristics.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium of the present invention includes: a non-magnetic substrate; a ferromagnetic thin metal layer formed on the non-magnetic substrate; and a carbon layer and a lubricant layer in contact with the carbon layer, which is formed above the ferromagnetic thin metal layer so that the lubricant layer is an outermost layer, wherein the carbon layer contains nitrogen atoms, a Raman spectrum of the carbon layer has a peak A in the range of about 1310 to about 1410 cm.sup.-1 and a peak B in the range of about 1520 to about 1570 cm.sup.-1, and a ratio of integrated intensities of the peak A to the peak B is in the range of about 1.2 to about 2.0.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium produced by treating a magnetic recording medium which comprises a non-magnetic substrate and a magnetic layer formed on said substrate in an atmosphere kept at a temperature of at least 50.degree. C., with applying a tension of 1 gf. or less per 10 mm width to said magnetic recording medium in a treating time which is in a range on or above a line having a slope of at least 5000 in terms of .DELTA.ln(L)/.DELTA.(1/T) and passing a point of 0.5 second at 100.degree. C., when ln(L) is Arrhenius plotted against an inverse of an absolute temperature T (1/T), which medium has suppressed change of magnetic properties with time and improved corrosion resistance.

Abstract: A lubricating construction of a scroll compressor includes a seal member provided between an orbiting scroll and a main frame to isolate a back pressure chamber from bearing portions to thereby keep the bearing portions substantially under a discharge pressure, a first oil feed passage extending from a lubricating oil portion under the discharge pressure to a space, disposed adjacent to an end of a crank portion of the crankshaft, through the crankshaft, a second oil feed passage extending from the above space to be opened to sliding portions of end plates of the orbiting and stationary scrolls through the end plate of the orbiting scroll, and communicating with the back pressure chamber, and a third oil feed passage extending from midway the first oil feed passage to be opened to an outer peripheral surface of the crankshaft, and serving to supply a lubricating oil to a main bearing portion by the use of a centrifugal pumping action produced by rotation of the crankshaft.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium comprising a non-magnetic substrate, a ferromagnetic thin film on the non-magnetic substrate, a hard carbon film on the ferromagnetic thin film, a modified layer of which atomic ratio of nitrogen/carbon is 0.8% or more, and of which thickness is less than 3 nm on the hard carbon film, and a lubricant layer on the modified layer, has excellent electromagnetic conversion characteristic, running stability, durability, and weatherability.

Abstract: A scroll type compressor having high efficiency and high reliability is obtained by preventing leakage of a compression chamber, increasing air tightness thereof and securing a smooth motion of an orbiting scroll member. A second frame member supported by a first frame member and slightly movable in the axial direction is disposed in the rear of an orbiting scroll member. Force is applied to the rear of the second frame member, and a slight axial movement of the orbiting scroll member is regulated by a fixed scroll member and the second frame member. As a result, both the scroll members are in tight contact or close to each other with a small space, and a smooth movement thereof can be secured, which makes it possible to obtain a scroll type compressor having high efficiency and high reliability.

Abstract: A protection film and a lubricant layer of monomers are formed successively on a ferromagnetic metal thin film formed on a nonmagnetic substrate or on a base of sliding member. Then, the lubricant layer is irradiated with radicals or atomic gas in the plasma discharge or with an electron beam to form graft polymers in the lubricant layer, and the protection film and the lubricant layer are bonded chemically. Thus, the reliability of a magnetic recording medium and a sliding member can be improved.