Abstract: The invention provides a very efficient method for the improvement of the antistatic performance, e.g. decrease in the accumulation of static electricity on the surface and decrease in the surface resistivity, of a synthetic resin shaped article with outstanding durability of the effect. The method comprises two steps in principle, first of which is the formation of a crosslinked layer in the surface portion of the shaped article by a variety of known methods effective for the formation of crosslinks in polymeric materials and the second of which is the exposure of the thus crosslinked surface of the article to low temperature plasma produced in an atmosphere containing a gaseous silicon-containing compound which may be a silane compound or a low-molecular weight vaporizable siloxane compound to form a plasma-polymerized surface film of the silicon compound on the crosslinked layer.

Abstract: A continuous vacuum treating apparatus having a vacuum treating chamber for continuously treating the surface of a plastic molding under a vacuum, and at least one auxiliary vacuum chamber disposed at each of the upstream and downstream sides of the vacuum treating chamber. Each auxiliary vacuum treating chamber includes a pair of seal rolls contacting each other, means for effecting seals between the seal rolls and cases over the entire axial lengths of the rolls, and means for effecting seals between both end surfaces and the cases.

Abstract: The invention provides a shaped article of a fluorine-containing synthetic resin having improved surface properties such as increased wettability with water, printability, susceptibility to adhesive bonding and less accumulation of static electricity. The improved shaped article is obtained by subjecting the surface of the article to exposure to low temperature plasma generated in a low pressure atmosphere of a nitrogen-containing gaseous organic compound such as amines, imides and amides.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel method for the preparation of a foamed body of a vinyl chloride-based resin composition having a very fine and uniform cellular structure in a continuous process with outstandingly low costs. The method utilizes a binary volatilizable blowing agent composed of (i) a first volatilizable organic compound which is a halogenated or unhalogenated aliphatic hydrocarbon boiling at 90.degree. C. or below and (ii) a second volatilizable organic compound selected from halogenated or unhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons, ethers, ketones and esters having a specified solubility parameter in consideration of the compatibility with the vinyl chloride-based resin.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel means for solving and overcoming the problems in the magnetic recording tapes caused by the accumulation of static electricity during travelling of the tape affecting the quality of the reproduced sounds and picture images by playing the tape. The inventive method comprises providing at least one surface of the plastic-made film base with a layer of a plasma-polymerized gaseous compound of a specific type by exposing the surface of the film base to the atmosphere of low temperature plasma generated in the low pressure atmosphere of the gas or vapor of a compound such as an amine, organosilane, aliphatically unsaturated compound and aromatic compound, preferably, before coating the film base with a magnetic coating composition. The plasma-polymerized layer is effective to decrease the surface resistivity of the film base and to reduce the accumulation of static electricity induced by rubbing.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel method for modifying the surface properties, e.g. antistatic performance and anti-wearing resistance, of a disc-like shaped article made of a vinyl chloride-based resin such as a gramophone record by treating with low temperature plasma so as that the surface of the record is rendered antistatic and the noise generation in playing of the record is remarkably decreased. Different from conventional methods, a great uniformity of the effect by the plasma treatment is ensured by the inventive method all over the surface of the record since the record is transferred through the space between two parallel arrays of electrodes, preferably, with rotation around its axis during the plasma treatment. The manner of connecting the electrodes to the terminals of the high frequency generator may be in two different ways.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel and improved method for the preparation of a cellular foamed body of a vinyl chloride-based resin having a very fine and uniform cellular structure with high productivity in a continuous process. According to the inventive method, a vinyl chloride-based resin is admixed with a nucleating agent and a foam conditioning resin which is a specified acrylic resin or a styrene-based resin into a resin composition and the resin composition is first heated under pressure to be converted into an at least partly gelled mass, into which a volatilizable foaming agent which is an organic solvent having a boiling point not exceeding 90.degree. C. is injected under pressure so as that the resin composition is uniformly impregnated with the foaming agent. The foaming agent-impregnated and completely gelled resin composition is then brought under a reduced pressure to be expanded into foams with simultaneous cooling.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel and efficient method for the improvement of the surface properties of a shaped article of a synthetic resin such as a vinyl chloride-based resin. In particular, the outstanding defective point of the plastic resin articles toward accumulation of static electricity on the surface is greatly reduced by the inventive method, in which the surface of the article is exposed to the low temperature plasma generated in a gaseous atmosphere containing an organic silicon compound followed, preferably, by contacting treatment with a halogen or a halogen compound such as hydrogen halides and halogen-containing organic compounds in a gaseous phase. The organic silicon compound in the gaseous plasma atmosphere is preferably diluted with a diluent gas which may be nitrogen, nitrogen oxides, ammonia or rare gases at a specified partial pressure.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel and efficient method for modifying the surface properties of a shaped article of a synthetic resin such as a polyvinyl chloride resin in which a remarkable anti-static effect is obtained on the surface so that accumulation of static electricity on the surface is greatly reduced. The inventive method comprises exposing the surface of the shaped article to a low temperature plasma generated in a gaseous atmosphere containing a nitrogen-containing organic compound such as an amine, acid amide, diamine and heterocyclic organic compound having at least one nitrogen atom in a molecule as the ring member at a pressure from 0.001 to 10 Torr. The gas or vapor of the above mentioned nitrogen-containing organic compound is preferably diluted with an inorganic gas.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel method for the preparation of a composite shaped article of a vinyl chloride-based resin clad with a coating layer of polyvinyl alcohol without the use of any adhesive agent. The method comprises subjecting the surface of the shaped article to exposure to an atmosphere of low temperature atmosphere, coating the thus plasma-treated surface of the shaped article with an aqueous solution of a polyvinyl alcohol and drying. The coating layer of the polyvinyl alcohol thus formed is so firmly bonded to the surface of the vinyl chloride-based resin shaped article that various advantageous properties are imparted to the shaped article.

Abstract: A novel method is proposed for improving the surface properties or, in particular, for reducing accumulation of static electricity on the surface of a shaped article of a vinyl chloride-based resin.The inventive method comprises first exposing the surface of the shaped article to low temperature plasma of a gas having no polymerizability in plasma and then bringing the plasma-treated surface into contact with a liquid which is inert to the resin, e.g. water, or an aqueous solution containing a surface active agent. The effect of the inventive method is so strong and durable that the treated surface remains anti-static even after 12 months after the treatment.

Abstract: A novel method is proposed for improving the surface properties or, in particular, for increasing the affinity to water of the surface of a shaped article made of a silicone, e.g. a silicone rubber. The inventive method comprises first exposing the surface of the shaped article of the silicone to low temperature plasma of an inorganic gas and then bringing the plasma-treated surface into contact with a liquid inert to the silicone which is an aqueous solution containing a surface active agent. The treated surface retains sufficient affinity to water even 6 months after the treatment.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel method for obtaining a shaped article of a vinyl chloride-based resin which is markedly insusceptible to the undesirable phenomenon of exudation or bleeding of the plasticizer and other additive ingredients contained therein on to the surface of the article. The method comprises formulating the resin composition for the fabrication of the shaped article with an epoxy compound containing, preferably, at least 2% by weight of the oxirane oxygen in the molecule in an amount of at least 0.05% by weight based on the vinyl chloride-based resin and irradiating the shaped article with ultraviolet light having a substantial energy distribution in the wavelength region of 200 nm or shorter. The shaped article obtained by the inventive method is remarkably insusceptible to the plasticizer bleeding even after prolonged outdoor exposure or irradiation with ultraviolet light having wavelengths longer than 290 nm.

Abstract: A novel method is proposed for improving the surface properties or, in particular, for increasing the affinity to water of and for reducing accumulation of static electricity on the surface of a shaped article made of an acrylic resin. The inventive method comprises first exposing the surface of the shaped article to low temperature plasma of a gas having no polymerizability in plasma and then bringing the plasma-treated surface into contact with an aqueous solution containing a surface active agent. The effect of the inventive method is so strong and durable that the treated surface remains antistatic even 6 months after the treatment.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel method for preventing bleeding of a plasticizer or other additive ingredients contained in a shaped article of a vinyl chloride-based resin composition on to the surface of the article by the treatment with low temperature plasma. Different from conventional procedures for the plasma treatment, much improved reliability and reproducibility as well as effectiveness are obtained by subjecting the article to intermittent exposure to the plasma atmosphere instead of continuous exposure. In the inventive method, the overall treatment time is an alternate sequence of exposure times, each being of the length of 0.001 second to 1000 seconds, and repose times, each being also of the length of 0.001 second to 1000 seconds. The gas for the plasma atmosphere is desirably an inorganic gas selected from the gases other than oxygenic gases, halogen containing gases and sulfur containing gases.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel method for modifying surface properties, e.g. liability to surface bleeding of plasticizers and other additives and affinity with water, of shaped articles of polymeric materials such as vinyl chloride-based resins and silicone rubbers by the treatment with low temperature plasma of a gas. The plasma treatment in the inventive method is carried out in two steps with the first step carried out in an atmosphere of oxygen and the second step carried out in a non-oxidizing gas such as argon and carbon monoxide. Different from the conventional methods of plasma treatment which suffer from poor reproducibility and low effectiveness, the inventive method can give good reproducibility and high effectiveness presumably owing to the removal of the surface stain in the first step plasma treatment.

Abstract: The undesirable phenomenon of bleeding of, for example, a plasticizer contained in a shaped article of a plasticized polyvinyl chloride resin on the surface of the article in a long-run use is effectively prevented by the inventive method and the effectiveness of the method is durable over a long period of time even when the article is used in an outdoor environment or under irradiation with ultraviolet light. The method of the invention comprises the first step of exposing the surface of the article to an atmosphere of low temperature plasma of an inorganic gas and then the second step of contacting the thus plasma-treated surface with a halogen or hydrogen halide, preferably, in gaseous state.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel means for the improvement of the surface properties of a gramophone record made of a vinyl chloride-based resin which is deficient in respect of the susceptibility to electrostatic charging and anti-wearing resistance with consequent noise generation in the playing of the record. The inventive method comprises irradiating the surface of the gramophone record with ultraviolet light having a substantial energy distribution in the wavelength region of 200 nm or shorter in an atmosphere of oxygen or an oxygen-containing gaseous mixture of which the pressure or partial pressure of oxygen is at least 15 Torr. The effect of the ultraviolet irradiation is further enhanced and the durability of the antistatic effect is increased by bringing the ultraviolet-irradiated surface of the gramophone record into contact with a solution containing a surface active agent followed by washing with water and drying.

Abstract: Gramophone records made of a vinyl chloride based resin are subjected to a treatment with low temperature plasma of a gas having no polymerizability in the plasma condition. A markedly improved anti-static effect is imparted to the surface of the gramophone record which also becomes highly resistant to wearing so that the signal/noise ratio in playing of the gramophone record is remarkably improved even after many times of repeated playing of the record.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel method for the preparation of a polarizing film or sheet based on a polyvinyl alcohol which is easily prepared and easy to handle. The inventive method comprises first subjecting a substrate film or sheet of a vinyl chloride resin to exposure to low temperature plasma, the surface of the substrate is coated with an aqueous solution of a polyvinyl alcohol and dried so as that a coating layer of the polyvinyl alcohol is formed as firmly bonded to the substrate surface owing to the increased affinity of the surface by the plasma treatment, the thus polyvinyl alcohol-clad substrate is stretched as such unidirectionally and the stretched polyvinyl alcohol layer is treated with iodine to be imparted with a polarizing power. The adhesion between the substrate and the polyvinyl alcohol layer is so strong without an adhesive agent that the difficulty in the prior art in handling fragile stretched polyvinyl alcohol film is completely overcome.