Abstract: Disclosed is related to a thermosetting resin composition which comprises a polyimide resin (A) having a phenolic hydroxyl group, preferably a polyimide resin (A) produced from an aminophenol (a), a diamino compound (b) and a tetrabasic acid dianhydride (c), and an epoxy resin (B); and a cured product thereof. The resin composition is excellent in storage stability, and gives a cured product excellent in flame retardancy and heat resistance. Furthermore, when the cured product is in a film form, the product has sufficient flexibility and excellent folding endurance.

Abstract: The invention relates to an epoxy resin composition containing (a) an epoxy resin and (b) a phenolic hydroxy group-containing polyamide resin having the structure represented by Formula (1), a method of curing the composition, a varnish, prepreg, or sheet using the composition, and an epoxy resin composition having the polyamide resin represented by Formula (1) as the active component. Cured products of the epoxy resin composition according to the present invention have a sufficient high flexibility when formed into a thin film, have a flame resistance even though the cured compositions do not contain a halogen flame retardant, an antimony compound, or the like and are superior in heat resistance and adhesiveness, and thus are extremely useful in a wide range of applications, for example, as molded materials, cast materials, laminate materials, paints, adhesives, resists, and the like. (wherein, l and m are averages, satisfying the formula: m/(l+m)=0.01; and l+m is a positive number of 2 to 200.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a photosensitive, aqueous alkaline solution-soluble polyimide resin (A) obtained by reacting a polyimide resin (a) which can be obtained by a tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride with a diamine compound with an energy ray-curing type aqueous alkaline solution-soluble resin (b); the resin has excellent photosensitivity obtained by mixing with a photopolymerization initiator and the like; the obtained cured products can be photosensitive resin compositions excellent in flexibility, low warping property, adhesion properties, solvent resistance, acid resistance, heat resistance, gold plating resistance and the like.

Abstract: To provide a gas diffusion layer excellent in micro short-circuit resistance and anti-flooding characteristics by optimizing the surface shape of a gas diffusion layer. In a gas diffusion layer for a gas diffusion electrode including at least a catalyst layer containing an electrode catalyst and a gas diffusion layer having electron conductivity and gas diffusibility, a second surface of the gas diffusion layer, which is positioned opposite to a first surface thereof to be in contact with the catalyst layer, is made rougher than the first surface. The first surface has a maximum height Ry1 of 10 to 50 determined by JIS B 0601 surface roughness measurement method, and the second surface has a maximum height Ry2 of 100 to 500 determined by JIS B 0601 surface roughness measurement method.

Abstract: The present invention provides an adhesive aid composition having excellent adhesive strength to polyimide films without decreasing mechanical properties and being useful in the field of electric materials. An adhesive aid composition of the present invention contains a phenolic hydroxyl group-containing polyamide and a solvent as essential components. The phenolic hydroxyl group-containing polyamide preferably has a segment represented by formula (1): (wherein R1 represents a divalent aromatic group, and n represents an average number of substituents and is a positive number of 1 to 4). The adhesive aid composition of the present invention is suitably used for bonding polyimide films.

Abstract: Provided herein are a phenolic hydroxyl group-containing aromatic polyamide resin and a resin composition containing the resin, such as an epoxy resin composition containing an epoxy resin. The phenolic hydroxyl group-containing aromatic polyamide resin has a structure represented by the following formula (1): wherein m and n are average values satisfying the following formula: 0.005?n/(m+n)<0.05, m+n is a positive value of 2 to 200, Ar1 is a bivalent aromatic group, Ar2 is a phenolic hydroxyl group-containing bivalent aromatic group, and Ar3 is a bivalent aromatic group. Such a phenolic hydroxyl group-containing aromatic polyamide resin has a low ionic impurity content and improved adhesive properties as well as excellent properties inherent in conventional phenolic hydroxyl group-containing aromatic polyamide resins, such as the ability to allow a cured epoxy resin composition to have excellent flexibility, electrical properties, flame retardancy, and the like.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a phenolic hydroxy group-containing rubber-modified polyamide resin which has, in the molecule, a phenolic hydroxy group-containing aromatic polyamide segment having a structure represented by the following formula (A) (wherein, m and n are average values and Ar represents a divalent aromatic group) and a butadiene (co)polymer segment selected from the following formula (B-1) or (B-2), —(CH2—CH?CH—CH2)X—??(B-1) —(CH2—CH?CH—CH2)Y—(CH2—CH(CN))Z—??(B-2) (wherein, each of x, y and z is an average value and 0.01?z/(y+z)?0.13, x represents a positive number of 5 to 200, and also y+z is a positive number of 10 to 200), and a resin composition containing said resin, in particular an epoxy resin composition; a cured product of said epoxy resin composition is excellent in flexibility, heat resistance and electrical properties especially at high temperature and high humidity.

Abstract: [Problems] To provide a process for producing a printed board having sufficient heat resistance. [Means for Solving Problems] The process for double-sided flexible printed board production comprising: a step in which a varnish comprising an aromatic resin represented by the following formula (1), an epoxy resin, and an organic solvent is directly applied to a metal foil; a step in which the solvent is removed to form a resin layer; and a step in which another foil is applied to the resin-layer side and the resin layer is cured. (In the formula, m and n are average value, m+n is a positive number of 2-200, and n is a positive number of 0.1 or larger; Ar1 and Ar3 each is a divalent aromatic group; and Ar2 is a divalent residue having a phenolic hydroxy group.

Abstract: A process for producing a microparticulate hardening catalyst, comprising the steps of jetting a liquid composition containing epoxy resin hardening catalyst (A), monomer having an ethylenically unsaturated group (B) and photopolymerization initiator (C) through a minute nozzle into a gas so as to form microparticles; and while the microparticles are floating, irradiating the same with high-energy rays to thereby effect polymerization of the monomer having an ethylenically unsaturated group (B).

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a catalyst-coated membrane suitable for achieving a polymer electrolyte fuel cell that sufficiently prevents a decrease in the initial characteristics and also exhibits sufficient cell performance for a long period of time and has excellent durability. In at least the cathode catalyst layer, the ratio (WP/WCat-C) of the weight of the polymer electrolyte (WP) to the weight of the catalyst-carrying carbon (WCat-C) is decreased from an innermost layer positioned closest to the polymer electrolyte membrane toward an outermost layer positioned farthest from the polymer electrolyte membrane. The ratio (WP/WCat-C) in the innermost layer is 0.8 to 3.0, and the ratio (WP/WCat-C) in the outermost layer is 0.2 to 0.6.

Abstract: A carbon fiber woven fabric for use as a gas diffusion layer base material in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell has a surface that is smoothed and further optimized to inhibit non-uniform infiltration of a coating for water-repellent-layer formation, to provide an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly suitable for operation under a high humidification condition. The gas diffusion layer base material may be a carbon fiber woven fabric, wherein a ratio of the area of gap portions where neither warp thread nor weft thread exists: (10/W?Y)(10/Z?X) to the area of portions where warp thread is crossing weft thread: XY mm2 is in the range of about 1/1500 to about 1/5, where the carbon fiber woven fabric has a warp density of Z threads/cm, a weft density of W threads/cm, a warp thickness of X mm and a weft thickness of Y mm.

Abstract: In a conventional polymer membrane electrode assembly, particularly when operated for a long period of time, a portion of the polymer electrolyte membrane to be in contact with the gas diffusion layer has suffered significant degradation. In order to address this, in a membrane electrode assembly including a hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane, a pair of catalyst layers arranged on both surfaces of the polymer electrolyte membrane, and a pair of gas diffusion layers, each including a fibrous substrate, arranged on the outer surfaces of the catalyst layers, a thickness TA of a center portion that faces the catalyst layer and a thickness TB of a peripheral portion surrounding the center portion are set to satisfy a expression (1): 0.7?TB/TA?0.9.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having an increased reaction area by forming a gas channel, a proton channel and an electron channel very close to each other inside a catalyst layer. This polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes a hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane; and a pair of electrodes having catalyst layers sandwiching the hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte membrane between them and gas diffusion layers in contact with the catalyst layers, in which the catalyst layer of at least one of the electrodes comprises carbon particles supporting a noble metal catalyst, and the carbon particles include at least two kinds of carbon particles adsorbing a hydrogen ion conductive polymer electrolyte in mutually different dispersed states.

Abstract: The present invention provides a gas diffusion layer for a fuel cell which has proper rigidity, is easy to handle and contributes to the improvement of the productivity of fuel cells. A method for producing a gas diffusion layer for a fuel cell including a first step of: impregnating a conductive porous substrate made of a conductive carbon fiber cloth or conductive carbon fiber felt with a first dispersion containing a first fluorocarbon resin having thermoplasticity; and baking the first conductive porous substrate at a first baking temperature of not less than the melting point of the first fluorocarbon resin and less than the decomposition temperature of the first fluorocarbon resin to enhance the rigidity of the conductive porous substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a substrate for a flexible printed wiring board including an adhesive layer containing an epoxy resin composition, insulating layers respectively stacked on both sides of the adhesive layer and formed with a pair of films containing a nonthermoplastic polyimide resin, and conductor layers respectively disposed on the outer surfaces of the films. The total thickness of the insulating layers respectively stacked on both sides of the adhesive layer is 10 to 100 ?m and 2 to 10 times the thickness of the adhesive layer. The mutual adhesion strength between the insulating layers through the intermediary of the adhesive layer is 7.0 N/cm or more.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprising: a hydrogen ion-conductive polymer electrolyte membrane; an anode and a cathode with the electrolyte membrane interposed therebetween; an anode-side conductive separator having a gas flow channel for supply of a fuel gas to the anode; and a cathode-side conductive separator having a gas flow channel for supply of an oxidant gas to the cathode, wherein each of the anode and the cathode comprises at least a catalyst layer in contact with the electrolyte membrane and a gas diffusion layer in contact with the catalyst layer and the separator, and at least one of the anode and the cathode contains a compound represented by the formula (I): R1—O—{(C2H4O)n—(C3H6O)m}—R2??(I) where R1 and R2 are independent of each other and each represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having not less than 5 and not more than 15 carbon atoms, n and m are integers which satisfy 0?n?5, 0?m?5 and 1?n+m?5, and when neither n nor m is 0, at least one of the ethylene oxide group and at leas

Abstract: A solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly having an anode, a cathode arranged facing the anode, and a polyelectrolyte membrane arranged between the anode and the cathode, and a pair of separator plates that are arranged facing each other so as to sandwich the membrane electrode assembly, and have an anode side gas channel for supplying a fuel gas to the anode, and a cathode side gas channel for supplying an oxidant gas to the cathode, formed thereon, wherein the catalyst layer of the anode contains at least one electrode catalyst selected from the group consisting of Pt particles and Pt alloy particles, having a particle diameter of from 6 to 10 nm, the catalyst layer of the anode has a thickness of from 1 to 5 ?m, Pt volume density in the catalyst layer of the anode is from 1 to 5 g/cm3, the catalyst layer of the cathode has a thickness of 10 ?m or more, and Pt volume density in the catalyst layer of the cathode is from 0.1 to 0.5 g/cm3.

Abstract: An air purifying apparatus for a fuel cell is provided on a flow route of air supplied to the fuel cell. The air purifying apparatus includes a first pollutant-removing means that oxidizes a pollutant in the air and a second pollutant-removing means that adsorbs and removes the pollutant. The first pollutant-removing means includes a catalyst that oxidizes the pollutant by means of oxygen in the air, and the catalyst has an oxidizing activity with respect to at least one selected from the group consisting of organic substances, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon monoxide. The first pollutant-removing means may include an ozone generator. The second pollutant-removing means adsorbs and removes the pollutant by means of a porous material carrying at least one selected from the group consisting of permanganates, alkali salts, alkaline hydroxides, and alkaline oxides.

Abstract: A fuel cell is disclosed having a separator that can minimize damage to a membrane electrode assembly. The separator advantageously has a groove therein approximately positioned over an outer edge of an electrode of the fuel cell to reduce any pressure between the separator and the outer edge of the electrode upon assembly and during use thereafter.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell comprising: a hydrogen ion-conductive polymer electrolyte membrane; an anode and a cathode with the electrolyte membrane interposed therebetween; an anode-side conductive separator having a gas flow channel for supply of a fuel gas to the anode; and a cathode-side conductive separator having a gas flow channel for supply of an oxidant gas to the cathode, wherein each of the anode and the cathode comprises at least a catalyst layer in contact with the electrolyte membrane and a gas diffusion layer in contact with the catalyst layer and the separator, and at least one of the anode and the cathode contains a compound represented by the formula (I): R1—O—{(C2H4O)n—(C3H6O)m}—R2 ??(I) where R1 and R2 are independent of each other and each represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having not less than 5 and not more than 15 carbon atoms, n and m are integers which satisfy 0?n?5, 0?m?5 and 1?n+m?5, and when neither n nor m is 0, at least one of the ethylene oxide group and at leas