Abstract: To provide surface-treating agents that can provide excellent hydrophobicity to powder and can improve its rinsability, to provide surface-treated powders that are treated with the surface-treating agent, and to provide cosmetics that comprise the surface-treated powder. A surface-treating agent consisting of a polymer which comprises a monomer (A) represented by the general formula (1) described below as a constituent monomer. (wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, R2 represents an alkylene group having 4 to 22 carbon atoms, X1 represents an —NH— group or an oxygen atom, and M1 represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent inorganic or organic cation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a microgel having a mean particle size of 0.1-1,000 ?m, the microgel being produced from a gel which is formed by use of a hydrophilic compound capable of forming a gel. An external composition containing the microgel provides an excellent sensation during use; i.e., the composition provides neither sticky sensation during use nor frictional sensation. Furthermore, even when a large amount of a pharmaceutical ingredient, such as a whitening ingredient, or a salt is incorporated into the composition, the viscosity of the composition is not lowered, and the composition exhibits excellent viscosity increasing property. In addition, the composition exhibits long-term stability, without inviting separation of water.

Abstract: To provide surface-treating agents that can provide excellent hydrophobicity to powder and can improve its rinsability, to provide surface-treated powders that are treated with the surface-treating agent, and to provide cosmetics that comprise the surface-treated powder. A surface-treating agent consisting of a polymer which comprises a monomer (A) represented by the general formula (1) described below as a constituent monomer. (wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, R2 represents an alkylene group having 4 to 22 carbon atoms, X1 represents an —NH— group or an oxygen atom, and M1 represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent inorganic or organic cation.

Abstract: A liquid fuel containing an ionic microgel is provided. A fuel cell having an anode for oxidizing the liquid fuel, a cathode for reducing an oxidizing agent, and an electrolyte film sandwiched between the anode and the cathode is provided.

Abstract: The invention is a water-soluble thickener made of a copolymer that is obtained by copolymerizing 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid or its salt, hydroxyethylacrylamide, and a crosslinking monomer, or that is made of a copolymer that is obtained by further neutralizing said copolymer that has been obtained using an alkaline agent. It also provides a cosmetic in which this water-soluble thickener has been blended. It is an object of the invention to provide, as a water-soluble thickener, a copolymer which, when blended into a cosmetic, demonstrates a sufficiently satisfactory degree of usability and is excellent in terms of stability and safety.

Abstract: The present invention provides an external composition for skin that has excellent effects in improving elasticity and alleviating wrinkles while moisturizing the skin, has good spreadability on the skin, and has no stickiness. The external composition for skin of the present invention is characterized by comprising: (A) an acrylic polymer comprising the following monomers (a1), (a2), and (a3) as constituent monomers: (a1) acrylic acid or methacrylic acid; (a2) an alkyl acrylate or alkyl methacrylate; and (a3) an ester between acrylic acid or methacrylic acid and polyoxyethylene alkyl ether; and (B) a cross-linked polyamino acid or its salt. In the external composition for skin of the present invention, it is preferable that (A) is 0.01 to 10.0 weight % as a polymer, and (B) is 0.0001 to 5.0 weight % as a polymer.

Abstract: The present invention is a thickener consisting of a microgel obtained by radical polymerization of water soluble ethylene-type unsaturated monomers dissolved in the dispersion phase in a composition having an organic solvent or an oil component as the dispersion medium and water as the dispersion phase, as well as a cosmetic containing said thickener.

Abstract: The invention is a water-soluble thickener made of a copolymer that is obtained by copolymerizing 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid or its salt, hydroxyethylacrylamide, and a crosslinking monomer, or that is made of a copolymer that is obtained by further neutralizing said copolymer that has been obtained using an alkaline agent. It also provides a cosmetic in which this water-soluble thickener has been blended. It is an object of the invention to provide, as a water-soluble thickener, a copolymer which, when blended into a cosmetic, demonstrates a sufficiently satisfactory degree of usability and is excellent in terms of stability and safety.

Abstract: The present invention is a thickener consisting of a microgel obtained by radical polymerization of water soluble ethylene-type unsaturated monomers dissolved in the dispersion phase in a composition having an organic solvent or an oil component as the dispersion medium and water as the dispersion phase, as well as a cosmetic containing said thickener.

Abstract: A liquid fuel containing an ionic microgel is provided. A fuel cell having an anode for oxidizing the liquid fuel, a cathode for reducing an oxidizing agent, and an electrolyte film sandwiched between the anode and the cathode is provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a microgel having a mean particle size of 0.1-1,000 ?m, the microgel being produced from a gel which is formed by use of a hydrophilic compound capable of forming a gel. An external composition containing the microgel provides an excellent sensation during use; i.e., the composition provides neither sticky sensation during use nor frictional sensation. Furthermore, even when a large amount of a pharmaceutical ingredient, such as a whitening ingredient, or a salt is incorporated into the composition, the viscosity of the composition is not lowered, and the composition exhibits excellent viscosity increasing property. In addition, the composition exhibits long-term stability, without inviting separation of water.

Abstract: The present invention provides an external composition for skin that has excellent effects in improving elasticity and alleviating wrinkles while moisturizing the skin, has good spreadability on the skin, and has no stickiness. The external composition for skin of the present invention is characterized by comprising: (A) an acrylic polymer comprising the following monomers (a1), (a2), and (a3) as constituent monomers: (a1) acrylic acid or methacrylic acid; (a2) an alkyl acrylate or alkyl methacrylate; and (a3) an ester between acrylic acid or methacrylic acid and polyoxyethylene alkyl ether; and (B) a cross-linked polyamino acid or its salt. In the external composition for skin of the present invention, it is preferable that (A) is 0.01 to 10.0 weight % as a polymer, and (B) is 0.0001 to 5.0 weight % as a polymer.

Abstract: The invention is an alternating copolymer, and a method of producing the same, obtained by alternately copolymerizing a vinylbenzyl-terminated polyethylene oxide (or polydimethylsiloxane) and a (meth)acryloyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (or polyethylene oxide). The alternating copolymer is a novel amphiphilic brush-shaped alternating copolymer having a structure that is well-suited as an emulsifier or a dispersant for oil and silicone solvents commonly used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Abstract: To provide surface-treating agents that can provide excellent hydrophobicity to powder and can improve its rinsability, to provide surface-treated powders that are treated with the surface-treating agent, and to provide cosmetics that comprise the surface-treated powder. A surface-treating agent consisting of a polymer which comprises a monomer (A) represented by the general formula (1) described below as a constituent monomer. (wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, R2 represents an alkylene group having 4 to 22 carbon atoms, X1 represents an —NH— group or an oxygen atom, and M1 represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent inorganic or organic cation.

Abstract: The first objective of the present invention is to provide a water-based polymer emulsion having a satisfactory storage stability and giving a coating film whose water resistance and adhesiveness are excellent. The second objective of the present invention is to provide the water-based polymer emulsion described above which has furthermore excellent characteristics for being used in a hair cosmetics. For the purpose of accomplishing the first objective described above, a water-based polymer emulsion according to the present invention is a water-based polymer emulsion obtained by emulsion polymerization of one or more silane coupling monomer, one or more lipophilic radical polymerizable monomer, and one or more hydrophilic radical polymerizable monomer, in which the polymer having said silane coupling monomer-derived reactive silyl group remaining therein is dispersed at a concentration or lower allowing the crosslinking between said silyl groups to be formed in a water-based dispersion medium.

Abstract: The invention is a water-soluble thickener made of a copolymer that is obtained by copolymerizing 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid or its salt, hydroxyethylacrylamide, and a crosslinking monomer, or that is made of a copolymer that is obtained by further neutralizing said copolymer that has been obtained using an alkaline agent. It also provides a cosmetic in which this water-soluble thickener has been blended. It is an object of the invention to provide, as a water-soluble thickener, a copolymer which, when blended into a cosmetic, demonstrates a sufficiently satisfactory degree of usability and is excellent in terms of stability and safety.

Abstract: The invention is an alternating copolymer, and a method of producing the same, obtained by alternately copolymerizing a vinylbenzyl-terminated polyethylene oxide (or polydimethylsiloxane) and a (meth)acryloyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (or polyethylene oxide). The alternating copolymer is a novel amphiphilic brush-shaped alternating copolymer having a structure that is well-suited as an emulsifier or a dispersant for oil and silicone solvents commonly used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Abstract: A hair treatment agent composition characteristically comprising a specific hydrophobically modified polyether urethane and cationic surfactant. The hair treatment agent composition of the present invention provides has good temperature stability in terms of the viscosity, exhibits superior fluid flow characteristics, achieves smoothness and ease of arranging the hair after drying, and gives a superior sensation during use. A cleaning agent composition characteristically comprising a specific hydrophobically modified polyether urethane and anionic surfactant and/or ampholytic surfactant. The cleaning agent composition of the present invention has superior viscosity and is superior in terms of foam formation as well as foam durability and feels refreshing without a slimy sensation after rinsing-off.

Abstract: The present invention is a thickener consisting of a microgel obtained by radical polymerization of water soluble ethylene-type unsaturated monomers dissolved in the dispersion phase in a composition having an organic solvent or an oil component as the dispersion medium and water as the dispersion phase, as well as a cosmetic containing said thickener.

Abstract: The present invention is a water-in-oil emulsified composition comprising (a) 0.1-20 wt % organophilic clay mineral, (b) 10-70 wt % oil component, (c) 0.01-10 wt % emulsifier having an HLB value of not more than 7, and (d) 0.1-90 wt % microgel having an average particle size of 0.1-1,000 micrometers obtained by dissolving a hydrophilic compound having a gelation ability in water or an aqueous component, letting it cool down and solidify to form a gel, and pulverizing said gel, as well as an emulsified cosmetic that uses this composition. The present invention provides a water-in-oil emulsified composition that exhibits good emulsified states, does not change over different temperatures and/or time, has superior stability, and gives a non-sticky, fresh, and good tactile sensation during use, as well as an emulsified cosmetic using this composition.