Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a method for analyzing a fiber structure comprising a fiber and inorganic particles. An analysis method according to the present invention is a method for evaluating a structure comprising a fiber and inorganic particles, said method comprising the steps of: (A) capturing a two-dimensional image of the surface of the fiber structure using a scanning electron microscope; (B) denoising the captured image by adjusting each contrast value; and (C) calculating the standard deviation of the contrast value after denoising.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a technique for preparing a complex fiber covered by silica and/or alumina at a high coverage ratio. According to the present invention, complex fibers comprising silica and/or alumina deposited on the surface of a fiber at a high coverage ratio can be prepared by synthesizing silica and/or alumina on the fiber while maintaining the pH of the reaction solution containing the fiber at 4.6 or less.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide complex fibers of inorganic particles and a fiber exhibiting high flame retardancy. According to the present invention, complex fibers of inorganic particles and a fiber treated with a flame retardant are provided. In the complex fibers of the present invention, 15% or more of the surface of the fiber is covered by the inorganic particles.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to achieve a high polymerization ratio and high functional group introduction ratio during production of a (meth)acrylic polymer having a functional group at one end, while suppressing formation of a disulfide. According to the constitution of the present invention, a method for producing a (meth)acrylic polymer having a functional group at one end includes subjecting a (meth)acrylic monomer to a polymerization reaction, in the presence of an inert gas containing 0.01% to 6.0% by volume of oxygen, by using, as an initiating species, a compound having a functional group and a thiol group.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to achieve a high polymerization ratio and high functional group introduction ratio during production of a (meth)acrylic polymer having a functional group at one end, while suppressing formation of a disulfide. According to the constitution of the present invention, a method for producing a (meth)acrylic polymer having a functional group at one end includes subjecting a (meth)acrylic monomer to a polymerization reaction, in the presence of an inert gas containing 0.01% to 6.0% by volume of oxygen, by using, as an initiating species, a compound having a functional group and a thiol group.

Abstract: Provided is a calcining paste composition having excellent printability and good calcining property while having appropriate viscosity. The calcining paste composition includes a copolymer (A) obtained by copolymerizing a monomer mixture containing a monomer (a-1) represented by the formula (I) in an amount of 10 to 80% by mass and a monomer (a-2) represented by the formula (II) in an amount of 20 to 90% by mass, said copolymer (A) having Mw of 2.01×105 to 1.5×106.

Abstract: To provide a paste composition which has appropriate viscosity and is excellent in both of coating property and calcining property, a production process for a calcined body using the paste composition, and a calcined body. The paste composition includes a (meth)acrylic (co)polymer containing 20 to 100% by mol of a constituent unit (A) represented by the following general formula (1) is provided. In the general formula (1), R1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R2 is a group having diameters of X<13.5 ? and Y>6.15 ? (here, X represents a length in the long-side direction and Y represents a length in the short-side direction) and having a volume larger than 80 ?3 and is a functional group having hydrogen bond property, a group having an alkoxy group or a group having an aryloxy group, and n is a number of 5 to 2000.

Abstract: The invention provides an optimum method for utilizing a desulfurizing agent for liquid hydrocarbons which can efficiently remove sulfur content from kerosene without performing addition of hydrogen to a low sulfur concentration and which has a prolonged lifetime. The invention provides a desulfurization method which includes removing sulfur content from kerosene by use of a metallic desulfurizing agent without performing addition of hydrogen, characterized in that the method employs desulfurization conditions satisfying the following formula (1): 1.06×Pope0.44<Tope/T50<1.78×Pope0.22??(1) (wherein Tope is operation temperature (° C.); Pope is operation pressure (MPa); and T50 is a temperature per 50 percent recovered as determined by “test method for distillation at atmospheric pressure” stipulated in JIS K2254 “Petroleum products—Determination of distillation characteristics as revised in 1998”).

Abstract: Disclosed is a resin composition composed of a heat-treated resin component (A) obtained by heating and mixing an aromatic imide resin or an aromatic imidazole resin with a carboxylic acid anhydride, and a silane compound (B) having at least one functional group selected from the group consisting of an epoxy group, an amino group, an amide group, a methoxy group, an isocyanate group, a carboxyl group, a mercapto group, a vinyl group, a (poly)sulfide group and a methacrylo group. This resin composition has excellent heat resistance of aromatic imide resins and aromatic imidazole resins while being remarkably improved in adhesion to various bases.

Abstract: The invention provides an optimum method for utilizing a desulfurizing agent for liquid hydrocarbons which can efficiently remove sulfur content from kerosene without performing addition of hydrogen to a low sulfur concentration and which has a prolonged lifetime. The invention provides a desulfurization method which includes removing sulfur content from kerosene by use of a metallic desulfurizing agent without performing addition of hydrogen, characterized in that the method employs desulfurization conditions satisfying the following formula (1): 1.06×Pope0.44<Tope/T50<1.78×Pope0.22??(1) (wherein Tope is operation temperature (° C.); Pope is operation pressure (MPa); and T50 is a temperature per 50 percent recovered as determined by “test method for distillation at atmospheric pressure” stipulated in JIS K2254 “Petroleum products—Determination of distillation characteristics”).

Abstract: A fuel oil for a fuel cell which contains, as a predominant component, a desulfurized light naphtha having a ratio of iso-paraffins to normal paraffins of 1 or more by weight; a fuel oil for a fuel cell, characterized by containing a deeply desulfurized light naphtha and can be used for both a hybrid engine and a fuel cell; and an automobile driving system using the composition. The above fuel oil and fuel oil composition can produce hydrogen with good efficiency, does not affect adversely a reformation catalyst or an electrode of a fuel cell, reduces deterioration of a reformation catalyst or the like, and thus can be used as a fuel oil for a fuel cell suitable for a transportation vehicle such as an automobile. The fuel oil composition can be used also as a fuel oil for a hybrid engine.

Abstract: A ruthenium-on-alumina catalyst including at least a ruthenium component carried by a porous &agr;-alumina material. The catalyst has a specific surface area (S1) of 7-50 m2/g, and a ratio S1/S2 of the specific surface area of the ruthenium-on-alumina catalyst (S1) to the surface area of the porous &agr;-alumina material (S2) of 3-50. The catalyst has a micropore structure having a pore diameter distribution profile in which at least one peak falls within the range of 5-1,000 angstroms. The catalyst of the invention has excellent crushing strength, and high activity per unit ruthenium weight. Moreover, the catalyst has remarkable heat resistance, maintaining its high activity even at high temperatures of reaction and firing.

Abstract: A catalyst for reforming a hydrocarbon with steam has a platinum group metal deposited on a carrier having a volume of pores with pore sizes of 500 Angstroms or smaller being 0.15 ml per gram or greater, a volume of pores having pore sizes of more than 500 Angstroms being 0.14 ml per gram or smaller, and an average pore size being 90 Angstroms or greater. The platinum group metal specifically includes rhodium and ruthenium, and the carrier preferably includes zirconia and stabilized zirconia. As a promoter component, at least one metal of cobalt and manganese is used. The catalyst is high in catalytic activity and long in catalytic life.

Abstract: A process for annealing steel strip comprising dipping the strip in a molten glass bath maintained 950.degree. C. or higher to anneal it, taking the strip out of the bath to form coagulated glass coatings on the surfaces of the strip and cooling the strip to destroy and peel off the coatings. The bath comprises 38.0 to 62.0% of B.sub.2 O.sub.3, 18.0 to 32.0% of SiO.sub.2, 18.0 to 32.0% of Na.sub.2 O partly replaceable with K.sub.2 O, up to 10.0% of CaO partly replaceable with MgO, BaO, ZnO and/or SrO, up to 6.0% of Li.sub.2 O, up to 10.0% of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and 0.5 to 4.0% of NaF, and has a viscosity not exceeding 200 poises as measured at 950.degree. C. The strip is preferably not exposed to air while above 400.degree. C.