Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes a transfer unit configured to transfer a second material with different solubility from that of a first material to a second position of a print medium where the second material comes into contact with the first material in a first position of the print medium, and a fixation unit configured to melt the second material transferred to the second position of the print medium, and fix the second material to the print medium.

Abstract: A seawater desalination system 10A includes a heat exchanging unit for heating feed seawater to a reverse osmosis membrane system using at least one or more of thermal discharge, exhaust gas, and steam generated through a gas engine and heating medium used in a heat pump system, and a reverse osmosis membrane system, provided in the downstream of the heat exchanging unit, for separating the feed seawater to the reverse osmosis membrane system into permeate and concentrate. The seawater desalination system according to the present invention is allowed to produce the permeate in economical and stable manners, even in such marine conditions as lower seawater temperature, by performing efficient heating and control of seawater.

Abstract: A holding furnace apparatus for holding molten metal and a molten metal holding method using the same are provided. The holding furnace includes generally a furnace body defining therein a reservoir chamber in which molten metal is held, an inlet port through which an ingot is supplied, an outlet port through which the molten metal held in the reservoir chamber is drawn outside, and an upper furnace wall defining the reservoir chamber together with the furnace body. The upper furnace wall has an inclined wall surface which is, when the reservoir chamber is filled with the molten metal at a given level, exposed to the molten metal so as to direct impurities contained in the molten metal rising to the surface of the molten metal to the inlet port.

Abstract: A laser treatment apparatus wherein a tip member formed of a light-transmitting material having a low thermal conductivity and a high heat-resistant property is integrally welded to the tip portion of a fiber waveguide member connected to a laser beam source. A connecting portion having substantially the same diameter as that of a core portion of the fiber waveguide member is integrally formed on the tip member so that end surfaces of the connecting portion and of the core portion are integrally welded to each other. A cladding part leading to a clad formed on the circumference of the core portion is formed on the outer peripheries of the connecting portion and of a welded portion between an end surface of the connecting portion and an end surface of the core portion. External portions of the fiber waveguide member and of the tip member are connected to each other through a sleeve.

Abstract: A process for preparing a laser knife wherein on the surface of a probe portion of a laser knife are coated with a carbon coating of 1 .mu.m to 50 .mu.m in thickness and a protective coating of 1 .mu.m to 50 .mu.m in thickness in that order by either a sputtering method or an ion plating method. The protective coating is made of sapphire, ruby or quartz glass.