Abstract: A production method for an aerogel includes a sol generation step by adding a silicon compound to an aqueous solution containing an acid catalyst and performing hydrolysis, where the silicon compound contains at least a quadri-functional silane compound and a tri-functional silane compound among quadri-functional silane compounds, tri-functional silane compounds, and di-functional silane compounds, the density of the aerogel is 0.15 g/cm3 or less, for example the silicon compound is a mixture of a quadri-functional silane compound, a tri-functional silane compound, and a di-functional silane compound having portions satisfying 0<Qx<50, 50?Tx<100, 0?Dx<30, and Qx+Tx+Dx=100, where Qx, Tx, and Dx represent the mass percentages of the quadri-functional silane compound, the tri-functional silane compound, and the di-functional silane compound, respectively. This provides aerogel having excellent thermal insulating characteristics and a large area.

Abstract: An aerogel and drying method, the aerogel having a larger size, good productivity, and high transparency. The aerogel has a silsesquioxane structure and exhibits two exothermic peaks observed in a temperature range of 300 to 600° C. as measured by TG-DTA (thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis) under an inert gas atmosphere containing 80% by volume of an inert gas and 20% by volume of oxygen. A method for producing aerogel includes a drying step including a first step in which an aerogel which has undergone condensation of a hydrolysate is placed in a liquid phase system having a first liquid phase and a second liquid phase; a second step in which a first solvent constituting the first liquid phase is evaporated from the first liquid phase at a temperature greater than room temperature; and a third step in which heating is still continued after the first liquid phase is evaporated off.

Abstract: Provided is a bone-regeneration material comprising biodegradable fibers and exhibiting antimicrobial properties at an early stage following surgery, A method for producing a bone-regeneration material having antimicrobial properties and comprising biodegradable fibers, wherein the bone-regeneration material is produced by a step in which the biodegradable fibers are immersed in an inositol phosphate solution, then subsequently immersed in a solution containing silver ions, the biodegradable fibers have an outer diameter of 10-100 ?m, contain at least 30 wt % or more of a biodegradable resin and 40 wt % or more of calcium compound particles, and some of the calcium compound particles are exposed on the surface of the biodegradable fibers.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a bone regeneration material kit, a paste-like bone regeneration material, a bone regeneration material, and a bone bonding material, which contain particles including a bioabsorbable polymer; and can fill a bone defect or damage and secure the mechanical strength of the bone in the short term and can promote regeneration of the patient's own bone in the long term. In addition, they can exhibit anti-washout properties after filling even when they are in contact with water such as blood or biological fluids. The present invention relates to a bone regeneration material kit comprising: a particle comprising a calcium salt and having an inositol phosphate or salt thereof adsorbed on the surface; a particle comprising a bioabsorbable polymer; and an aqueous medium.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a bone regeneration material kit, a paste-like bone regeneration material, a bone regeneration material, and a bone bonding material, which contain particles including a bioabsorbable polymer; and can fill a bone defect or damage and secure the mechanical strength of the bone in the short term and can promote regeneration of the patient' s own bone in the long term. In addition, they can exhibit anti-washout properties after filling even when they are in contact with water such as blood or biological fluids. The present invention relates to a bone regeneration material kit comprising: a particle comprising a calcium salt and having an inositol phosphate or salt thereof adsorbed on the surface; a particle comprising a bioabsorbable polymer; and an aqueous medium.

Abstract: A hydroxyapatite ceramic hybrid material includes a hydroxyapatite ceramic structure having pores therein and a biodegradable polymer included in the pores in the hydroxyapatite ceramic structure. The biodegradable polymer can be a poly L-lactic acid polymer. A method for preparing a hydroxyapatite ceramic-biodegradable polymer hybrid material includes preparing a porous hydroxyapatite ceramic containing pores having an average pore diameter of 10 ?m or larger; and forming a biodegradable polymer in the pores of the porous hydroxyapatite ceramic. The porous hydroxyapatite ceramic may be prepared by: preparing a slurry comprising hydroxyapatite fibers and heat-degradable particles in a selected solvent; filtering the slurry to obtain a paste; preparing a molded body using the paste; compacting the molded body to produce a green compact; and firing the green compact at a temperature at least 1000° C. to produce a porous hydroxyapatite ceramic structure.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an antibacterial medical equipment which has sufficient antibacterial activity in vivo and is excellent in compatibility with living tissues, and also can maintain antibacterial activity over a long period and has high safety. An antibacterial medical equipment characterized in that inositol phosphate is bonded to a Ca compound of a medical equipment whose surface is at least coated with a layer of the Ca compound, or a medical equipment comprising the Ca compound. The antibacterial medical equipment as described above, wherein silver ions are bonded to the inositol phosphate. A method for producing an antibacterial medical equipment, which comprises bringing a medical equipment whose surface is at least coated with a layer of a Ca compound, or a medical equipment comprising a Ca compound into contact with an aqueous solution of inositol phosphate to obtain an antibacterial medical equipment in which inositol phosphate is bonded to the Ca compound.

Abstract: A hydroxyapatite ceramic hybrid material, which includes a biodegradable polymer included in the pores in a hydroxyapatite ceramic structure, and a method thereof, and a calcium phosphate porous body, which is formed by an intertwining of fibrous calcium phosphates and includes a plurality of first pores formed where the fibrous calcium phosphates interconnect and plurality of equal diameter substantially spherical second pores with a larger inside diameter than the first pores, and a method thereof are provided.

Abstract: A hydroxyapatite ceramic hybrid material, which includes a biodegradable polymer included in the pores in a hydroxyapatite ceramic structure, and a method thereof, and a calcium phosphate porous body, which is formed by an intertwining of fibrous calcium phosphates and includes a plurality of first pores formed where the fibrous calcium phosphates interconnect and plurality of equal diameter substantially spherical second pores with a larger inside diameter than the first pores, and a method thereof are provided.

Abstract: A material for cement which comprises a calcium salt powder with an inositol phosphate and/or a salt thereof as adsorbed on the surface thereof, the powder having a specific surface area of 60-120 m2/g. A method of producing a material for cement comprises the step of mixing a calcium ion-containing solution adjusted to alkalinity with a phosphate ion-containing solution to produce a precipitate, the step of maturing the precipitate-containing system while maintaining the alkalinity to obtain a calcium salt powder, the step of recovering the calcium salt powder and drying the same, and the step of immersing the dried calcium salt powder in a solution containing an inositol phosphate and/or a salt thereof to cause the inositol phosphate and/or salt thereof to be adsorbed on the surface of the calcium salt powder.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an antibacterial medical equipment which has sufficient antibacterial activity in vivo and is excellent in compatibility with living tissues, and also can maintain antibacterial activity over a long period and has high safety. An antibacterial medical equipment characterized in that inositol phosphate is bonded to a Ca compound of a medical equipment whose surface is at least coated with a layer of the Ca compound, or a medical equipment comprising the Ca compound. The antibacterial medical equipment as described above, wherein silver ions are bonded to the inositol phosphate. A method for producing an antibacterial medical equipment, which comprises bringing a medical equipment whose surface is at least coated with a layer of a Ca compound, or a medical equipment comprising a Ca compound into contact with an aqueous solution of inositol phosphate to obtain an antibacterial medical equipment in which inositol phosphate is bonded to the Ca compound.

Abstract: The present invention provides a calcium phosphate/biodegradable polymer hybrid material with high strength prepared by complexing a calcium phosphate porous material and a biodegradable polymer having a average molecular weight of 50,000 to 500,000, an implant comprising the hybrid material, and a method for producing a calcium phosphate/biodegradable polymer hybrid material prepared by immersing the calcium phosphate porous material within a solution including a biodegradable polymer and performing an ultrasonic treatment or a suction treatment.

Abstract: A hydroxyapatite ceramic hybrid material includes a hydroxyapatite ceramic structure having pores therein and a biodegradable polymer included in the pores in the hydroxyapatite ceramic structure. The biodegradable polymer can be a poly L-lactic acid polymer. A method for preparing a hydroxyapatite ceramic-biodegradable polymer hybrid material includes preparing a porous hydroxyapatite ceramic containing pores having an average pore diameter of 10 ?m or larger; and forming a biodegradable polymer in the pores of the porous hydroxyapatite ceramic. The porous hydroxyapatite ceramic may be prepared by: preparing a slurry comprising hydroxyapatite fibers and heat-degradable particles in a selected solvent; filtering the slurry to obtain a paste; preparing a molded body using the paste; compacting the molded body to produce a green compact; and firing the green compact at a temperature at least 1000° C. to produce a porous hydroxyapatite ceramic structure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cement material comprising a powder of a calcium salt having inositol phosphate and/or a salt thereof adsorbed on its surface, wherein the powder has a specific surface area of 60 to 120 m2/g. Also disclosed is a process for producing a cement material, comprising the steps of: mixing a solution containing a calcium ion and adjusted to an alkaline pH value with a solution containing a phosphate ion to produce a precipitate; aging the system containing the precipitate to produce a powder of the calcium salt: collecting and drying the powder of the calcium salt; and immersing the dried powder of the calcium salt in a solution of inositol phosphate and/or a salt thereof to cause the adsorption of the inositol phosphate and/or the salt thereof onto the surface of the powder of the calcium salt.

Abstract: A method for producing an alkylsiloxane aerogel of the invention includes (a) a step of letting a reaction to produce a sol and a reaction to convert the sol to a gel take place in one step by adding a silicon compound whose molecules have a hydrolysable functional group and a nonhydrolysable functional group to an acidic aqueous solution containing a surfactant, and (b) a step of drying the gel produced in the step (a). In the step (b), the gel is dried at a temperature and a pressure below the critical point of a solvent used to dry the gel.

Abstract: Silica aerogels that are controlled in pore diameter and pore diameter distribution can be produced as follows: a surfactant is dissolved in an acidic aqueous solution; a silicon compound having a hydrolysable functional group and a hydrophobic functional group is added thereto, so that a hydrolysis reaction is carried out to yield a gel; and after the gel is solidified, the gel is dried supercritically. Preferably, the surfactant is one selected from the group consisting of a nonionic surfactant, a cationic surfactant, and an anionic surfactant, or a mixture of at least two of them. The silica aerogels produced as described above are usable for heat insulators for solar-heat collector panels or heat-insulating window materials for housing.

Abstract: The differential pressure/pressure transmitter of the present invention detects overpressures by using pre-loading diaphragms. The differential pressure/pressure transmitter of the present invention is provided with a high pressure-side diaphragm assembly 24 having a high pressure-side process diaphragm 34, which transfers high pressure from a process to the high pressure-side transfer oil, and a high pressure-side pre-loading diaphragm 32. The differential pressure/pressure transmitter is also provided with a low pressure-side diaphragm assembly 25 having a low pressure-side process diaphragm 38 and a low pressure-side pre-loading diaphragm 36. A differential pressure sensor assembly is provided to detect the pressure difference between the high pressure-side transfer oil from the high pressure-side diaphragm assembly and the above low pressure-side transfer oil from the low pressure-side diaphragm assembly.

Abstract: In a differential pressure/pressure transmitter having a construction in which overpressures are detected utilizing pre-loading diaphragms, the pressure sensing assembly in which the displacement volume is made larger even under low pressure is provided by forming pre-loading diaphragms in corrugated shapes.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for sintering a compact of particulate material for a ceramic or of particles of a metal, or a ceramic precursor film, wherein the sintering is performed by heating and burning the compact or the ceramic precursor film while applying centrifugal force to the compact or the ceramic precursor film.

Abstract: A ferroelectric element comprising a ferroelectric material containing at least two metals, the ferroelectric element having been produced by a process including a sol-gel process in the presence of a thickener and/or an association preventive from aqueous solutions of respective salts of the metals. The ferroelectric element is advantageous in that the handling of starting compounds and the production of the ferroelectric element are easy, the storage stability of the starting compound solution is good, the cost is low, the ferroelectric element can be formed as a thin layer, particles on the surface of the thin layer are fine and dense, and, hence, the surface smoothness is good. The ferroelectric element is excellent also in piezoelectric properties and therefore can be advantageously used as a piezoelectric element in a piezoelectric ink jet head.