Abstract: A curable starch composition comprising a mixture of a starch and a curing agent having a functional group complementally reactive with at least one hydroxyl group contained in a starch molecule; and a modified starch having at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of a hydrocarbon group, acid group, blocked isocyanate group, isocyanate group, oxidative polymerizable group, radical polymerizable unsaturated group and amide group in a starch molecule.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a resin-coated powder material prepared by coating at least one organic resin selected from a silicone resin and a fluorocarbon resin; a coating composition prepared by mixing a zinc oxide needle-like single-crystal inorganic powder with a silicone resin coating composition and/or fluorocarbon resin coating composition; and a substrate surface-modifying method which comprises coating an inorganic powder dispersion containing, as essential components, a needle-like single-crystal inorganic powder and a resin onto a plastics substrate or inorganic substrate to impart water-repellency to the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A curable starch composition comprising a mixture of a starch and a curing agent having a functional group complementally reactive with at least one hydroxyl group contained in a starch molecule; and a modified starch having at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of a hydrocarbon group, acid group, blocked isocyanate group, isocyanate group, oxidative polymerizable group, radical polymerizable unsaturated group and amide group in a starch molecule.

Abstract: The present invention provides a powder coating composition for forming a multilayer film, obtainable by dry blending a lower layer-forming thermosetting powder coating material (A) and an upper layer-forming thermosetting powder coating material (B), wherein at least one of the following conditions is satisfied: (I) the material (A) contains an onium salt compound; (II) particles of 45 &mgr;m or smaller diameter account for at least 90 wt. % of each of the materials (A) and (B); and (III) the material (A) is higher than the material (B) in melt viscosity (Pa·s) measured at 130° C. The powder coating composition of the invention is capable of sufficiently separating into layers and forming a multilayer film with excellent properties.

Abstract: The present invention provides a powder coating composition for forming a multilayer film, obtainable by dry blending a lower layer-forming thermosetting powder coating material (A) and an upper layer-forming thermosetting powder coating material (B), wherein at least one of the following conditions is satisfied: (I) the material (A) contains an onium salt compound; (II) particles of 45 &mgr;m or smaller diameter account for at least 90 wt. % of each of the materials (A) and (B); and (III) the material (A) is higher than the material (B) in melt viscosity (Pa·s) measured at 130° C.

Abstract: The present invention provide a method for color matching of a thermosetting powder coating composition, the method comprising the steps of: (1) dryblending two or more kinds of starting colored thermosetting powder coating compositions of different colors having an average particle size of 20 &mgr;m or less to achieve color matching, and (2) granulating the dryblend to a particle size in the range suitable for powder coating, by heating and agitating the dryblend, or by adding a specific solid binder, or by grinding and classifying a sheet or grains formed by compressing the dryblend. According to the present invention, color matching can be easily made, and a color-matched powder coating composition is obtained which is excellent in application characteristics, finished appearance and film properties.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for color matching of a thermosetting powder coating composition, the method comprising the steps of: dryblending two or more kinds of starting colored thermosetting powder coating compositions of different colors having an average particle size of 10 &mgr;m or less to achieve color matching, and granulating the dryblend to a particle size in the range which is suitable for coating, by adding at least one binder selected from the group consisting of an aqueous solution of polyethylene glycol and an aqueous dispersion of paraffin wax; and a production process therefor. According to the present invention, color matching can be easily made, and a film of the obtained color-matched powder coating composition is excellent in finished appearance and outstanding in properties.

Abstract: A curable coating composition comprising (A) a functional group-containing base resin and (B) a clathrate compound consisting of (i) at least one guest compound selected from the group consisting of a curing agent having a functional group crosslinkable with the functional group of the base resin and a curing catalyst, and (ii) a host compound consisting of tetrakisphenols.

Abstract: A coating composition prepared by mixing an organic solvent based coating composition with (1) a silicone compound having organofunctional group and hydrolyzable group in one molecule and containing a specified silicon structural unit, or (2) a silicone compound consisting of a partial cohydrolysis.cndot.condensation product of a silane mixture of alkoxysilane compound containing at least one organofunctional group selected from the group consisting of (meth)acryloyl group, vinyl group, haloalkyl group, amino group, epoxy group and mercapto group with tetraalkoxysilane compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates a topcoating composition and a film-forming process by use of the topcoating composition, which are capable of forming a coated film having good weather resistance and good stain resistance. The present invention provides a topcoating composition prepared by incorporating a specified organosilicate and/or its condensate into a specified organic coating composition, a film formed from said topcoating composition being such that a surface of the film, which has been subjected to an acid treatment, shows a contact angle to water of 70.degree. or less; and a film-forming process which comprises coating said topcoating composition onto a substrate to form a film, followed by treating the surface of the film with an acid.

Abstract: A curing catalyst for use in epoxy resin, said curing catalyst being a metal salt complex of an adduct between polyepoxide and imidazoles; and a heat curing coating composition prepared by mixing the above curing catalyst with a coating composition containing an epoxy group-containing compound.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thermosetting coating composition comprising (A) an epoxy compound and (B) an aromatic sulfonium salt represented by the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkoxyl group, or a group represented by the formula ##STR2## wherein Y represents an alkyl group, an alkoxyl group, a phenyl group or a phenoxy group all of which may have a substituent, each of R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or an alkyl group, each of R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 represents an alkyl group, an aralkyl group or an aryl group all of which may have a substituent, and X.sup.- represents SbF.sub.6.sup.-, PF.sub.6.sup.-, AsF.sub.6.sup.-, or BF.sub.4.sup.-.

Abstract: The present invention provides a topcoating composition prepared by incorporating a specified organosilicate and/or its condensate into a specified organic coating composition, a film formed from said topcoating composition being such that a surface of the film, which has been subjected to an acid treatment, shows a contact angle to water of 70.degree. or less; and a film-forming process which comprises coating said topcoating composition onto a substrate to form a film, followed by treating the surface of the film with an acid. The present invention provides such effects that the film obtained according to the present invention shows good weather resistance and good stain resistance.

Abstract: A letter pattern recognition method preprocesses each character pattern to effect characteristic extraction based on elements such as a loop, a straight line and an arc and is adapted to compare the character pattern with a preregistered classification code after the normalization thereof, the character pattern being subjected to balance and stroke checks if necessary as a result of the comparison. Notwithstanding this, if the character is not defined, the character pattern is identified by means of detail classifications such as those of a divergent mode of the arc, and a length ratio of the elements and the like.

Abstract: A method for identifying a plurality of handwritten connected figures includes identifying and prioritizing branches of the connected figures. A first recognition block is formed extending a predetermined distance from one end of the connected figures. Branches having the lowest priority within the first recognition block are erased until a recognizable figure is obtained within the first recognition block. Then, a second recognition block is formed extending the predetermined distance from the recognizable figure obtained in the first recognition block. As with the first recognition block, the branches having the lowest priority within the second recognition block are erased until a recognizable figure is obtained within the second recognition block.

Abstract: A certification identifying medium such as debit card or credit card comprising a substrate preferably made of a paper material, a bar code band printed or layered on the substrate with a material including a magnetic material provided with a specific coercive force and a magnetic record band disposed on the substrate to magnetically record information of the bar code. A mask band made of a non-magnetic material is applied to the substrate to cover at least the bar code band to prevent the visual observation thereof. The bar code band generally comprises a plurality of bar codes which have the specific coercive force different from each other.

Abstract: There has been proposed in prior art an identification device which identifies the denomination of a bank bill from the numerical figures thereon; however, it is of a simple type which recognizes the numerical figures by the variation of the light level reflected from the portion of a note having such numerical figures printed thereon by means of a sensor to thereby identify the denomination thereof. The device is detrimental in that a note is erroneously identified due to stains on the note. It is not quite practically usable as it is necessary to convey a note with one of the edges thereof placed under a strict control so that the numerical portion thereof should be surely passed through the sensoring position. According to this invention, one-dimensional image sensors are provided over the numerical portion on both sides of a note, signals output from the image sensors in time serial are encoded and characteristic signals for the numerical figures on the note are formed.

Abstract: An apparatus for stabilizing a laser beam to be used for exposure in an image-reproducing apparatus wherein said beam is suitably controlled by image signals obtained from the scanning of the original beam as modulated. A laser beam, after being suitably modulated by an ultrasonic light modulator, is branched out by a half mirror into two beams, one of which is to be used for exposing a photosensitive material and the other is used as a negative feedback signal. This feedback signal is then added to an image signal so that a linearity between exposing beam and image signals are greatly improved. Further, by improving the linearity of exposing beam, the stability of the exposing beam is simultaneously improved.