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.

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.

Abstract: A ferroelectric element, having a ferroelectric material containing at least two metals, the ferroelectric element having been produced by a process including the steps of: providing alkoxides of the respective metals as starting compounds; hydrolyzing the metal alkoxides in the presence of a catalytic amount of a protonic acid to increase the molecular weight; and adding a film-forming polymer material to the sol-like solution prepared in the step of increasing the molecular weight to prepare a sol-like ferroelectric precursor solution. The ferroelectric element can be formed in a thick film form without creating any cracks. It can be advantageously used as a piezoelectric element in a piezoelectric ink jet head.

Abstract: A ferroelectric element, including a ferroelectric material containing at least two metals, the ferroelectric element having been produced by a process including the steps of: providing alkoxides of the respective metals as starting compounds; hydrolyzing the metal alkoxides in the presence of a catalytic amount of a protonic acid to increase the molecular weight; and adding a film-forming polymer material to the sol-like solution prepared in the step of increasing the molecular weight to prepare a sol-like ferroelectric precursor solution. The ferroelectric element can be formed in a thick film form without creating any cracks. It can be advantageously used as a piezoelectric element in a piezoelectric ink jet head.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: A ferroelectric element, having a ferroelectric material containing at least two metals, the ferroelectric element having been produced by a process including the steps of: providing alkoxides of the respective metals as starting compounds; hydrolyzing the metal alkoxides in the presence of a catalytic amount of a protonic acid to increase the molecular weight; and adding a film-forming polymer material to the sol-like solution prepared in the step of increasing the molecular weight to prepare a sol-like ferroelectric precursor solution. The ferroelectric element can be formed in a thick film form without creating any cracks. It can be advantageously used as a piezoelectric element in a piezoelectric ink jet head.

Abstract: To form a thin film of ferroelectric substance by sol-gel method, there is provided a process for obtaining a precursor solution from which a coating solution enabling to form a thin film having a film thickness enough to exhibit its property can be obtained just by one coating operation without any multi-coating. After composing a Ti alkoxide oligomer having a cyclic structure or a ladder structure by hydrolysis and poly-condensation of a Ti alkoxide and composing a Zr alkoxide oligomer by hydrolysis and polycondensation of a Zr alkoxide, the Ti alkoxide oligomer is preliminarily hydrolyzed and reacted with the Zr alkoxide oligomer, whereby a Ti--O--Zr precursor is obtained, and a Pb(Ti--O--Zr) is obtained by reacting the Ti--O--Zr precursor with the Pb alkoxide.

Abstract: By using the fluoran compound represented by the following general formula (I); ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is alkyl containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R.sup.3 is alkyl containing 1 to 8 carbon atoms, R.sup.4 is hydrogen or alkyl containing 1 to 8 carbon atoms, or R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 may bond with each other to form a ring together with a N atom, R.sup.2 is alkyl containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and n denotes 0, 1 or 2, however, the substituents represented by R.sup.2 may be different with each other when n is 2, as a color former for color forming recording materials, recording materials which have excellent properties in whiteness of the background of the material under light and in photostability of color-formed images on the materials as well as in sufficient color forming capability of the material even after having exposed them to light, can be provided.

Abstract: Surface treating agents comprising of an organic titanium compound containing at least one fluoropolyether radical linked by carboxy groups to the titanium and at least one hydrolyzable group, such compounds being obtained by reacting a fluoropolyether having one or more carboxylic groups with a titanium compound having at least one group able to react with carboxylic group and at least one residual hydrolyzable group per titanium atom. The surface treating agents have not only superior surface activity and anti-corrosion properties for the metal surface but are also chemically stable.