Abstract: Disclosed herein is a separator for an electrochemical element, comprising a fibrous structure, wherein the fibrous structure has a first fibrous layer part in which short fibers and/or pulp-like fibers are intertwined with each other, and a second fibrous layer part; some of the short fibers and/or the pulp-like fibers constituting the first fibrous layer part penetrates the second fibrous layer part; and a pore diameter distribution of the fibrous structure satisfies the following formula: 0 ?m<Dmax<18 ?m, and 0 ?m?(Dmax?Dave)<13 ?m, wherein Dmax is a maximum pore diameter (?m) of the fibrous structure, and Dave is an average pore diameter (?m) of the fibrous structure.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a separator for an electrochemical element, comprising a fibrous structure, wherein the fibrous structure has a first fibrous layer part in which short fibers and/or pulp-like fibers are intertwined with each other, and a second fibrous layer part; some of the short fibers and/or the pulp-like fibers constituting the first fibrous layer part penetrates the second fibrous layer part; and a pore diameter distribution of the fibrous structure satisfies the following formula: 0 ?m<Dmax<18 ?m, and 0 ?m?(Dmax?Dave)<13 ?m, wherein Dmax is a maximum pore diameter (?m) of the fibrous structure, and Dave is an average pore diameter (?m) of the fibrous structure.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a nonwoven fabric having mechanical strength which is hardly cut and broken by an external force, and a separator for electrochemical devices using the nonwoven fabric. The inventive nonwoven fabric has a sum of tensile strengths by zero-span per basis weight in the machine direction and the cross-machine direction of 6.5N/50 mm or more. Thus, the strength of the constituent fibers of this nonwoven fabric against an external force is high, and this nonwoven fabric has mechanical strength which is hardly cut and broken by an external force. The separator for electrochemical devices of the present invention is composed of this nonwoven fabric.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a separator for an electrochemical element, comprising a fibrous structure, wherein the fibrous structure has a first fibrous layer part in which short fibers and/or pulp-like fibers are intertwined with each other, and a second fibrous layer part; some of the short fibers and/or the pulp-like fibers constituting the first fibrous layer part penetrates the second fibrous layer part; and a pore diameter distribution of the fibrous structure satisfies the following formula: 0 ?m<D max<18 ?m, and 0 ?m?(D max?Dave)<13 ?m, wherein D max is a maximum pore diameter (?m) of the fibrous structure, and Dave is an average pore diameter (?m) of the fibrous structure.

Abstract: Disclosed are a separator for lithium ion secondary batteries, having an inorganic layer formed from inorganic particles, characterized in that the inorganic particles have a particle diameter distribution in which the 50% cumulative particle diameter D50 is in the range of 100 nm to 500 nm, the 10% cumulative particle diameter D10 is 0.5D50 or more, and the 90% cumulative particle diameter D90 is 2D50 or less; a method for manufacturing the separator; and a lithium ion secondary battery using the separator. When the separator is used, there can be produced a lithium ion secondary battery in which a short circuit caused by contraction or melting can be definitely prevented, as well as the current density applied to the electrodes during charging and discharging is uniform so that charging and discharging can be efficiently achieved.

Abstract: Disclosed is a lithium ion secondary battery, in which comprises a vinyl alcohol polymer or a derivative thereof in an amount of 0.3 mg or more per 1 mAh of battery capacity in terms of a vinyl alcohol unit moiety content. The lithium ion secondary battery can decrease the battery voltage under high-temperature conditions and cannot be recharged after being exposed to high-temperature conditions.

Abstract: An alkaline battery separator comprises a fused fiber layer, and a fine fiber layer adjacent to the fused fiber layer and comprising fine fibers and second fusible fibers, which are fused in the fine fiber layer, wherein part of the fine fibers are incorporated into the fused fiber layer, so that in determining a delamination strength between the fused fiber layer and the fine fiber layer, delamination occurs in the fine fiber layer and therefore the determination results in failure. A process for manufacturing the separator includes preparing a fused fiber sheet, preparing a slurry containing fine fibers and second fusible fibers, scooping up the slurry with the fused fiber sheet, to thereby incorporate part of the fine fibers into the fused fiber sheet, and fusing the second fusible fibers in the fused fiber sheet.

Abstract: Disclosed is a lithium ion secondary battery, in which comprises a vinyl alcohol polymer or a derivative thereof in an amount of 0.3 mg or more per 1 mAh of battery capacity in terms of a vinyl alcohol unit moiety content. The lithium ion secondary battery can decrease the battery voltage under high-temperature conditions and cannot be recharged after being exposed to high-temperature conditions.

Abstract: Disclosed are a separator for lithium ion secondary batteries, having an inorganic layer formed from inorganic particles, characterized in that the inorganic particles have a particle diameter distribution in which the 50% cumulative particle diameter D50 is in the range of 100 nm to 500 nm, the 10% cumulative particle diameter D10 is 0.5D50 or more, and the 90% cumulative particle diameter D90 is 2D50 or less; a method for manufacturing the separator; and a lithium ion secondary battery using the separator. When the separator is used, there can be produced a lithium ion secondary battery in which a short circuit caused by contraction or melting can be definitely prevented, as well as the current density applied to the electrodes during charging and discharging is uniform so that charging and discharging can be efficiently achieved.

Abstract: A battery separator comprising a nonwoven fabric, wherein the nonwoven fabric contains (1) superfine fibers having a fiber diameter of 3 ?m or less, (2) noncircular fine fibers having a noncircular cross-sectional shape and having a fiber diameter of 3 to 5 ?m (excluding 3 ?m), the fiber diameter meaning a diameter of a circle having an area the same as that of the noncircular cross-sectional shape, and (3) polypropylene based high-strength composite fibers containing a fusible component on the surface thereof and having a tensile strength of 4.5 cN/dtex or more, and the fusible component contained in the polypropylene based high-strength composite fibers is fused, and a battery comprising the battery separator are disclosed. A battery separator of the present invention has a high electrolyte-holding capacity and is capable of effectively preventing a short circuit, even if the separator is designed to be thinner to enhance the capacity of a battery.

Abstract: An alkaline battery separator comprises a fused fiber layer, and a fine fiber layer adjacent to the fused fiber layer and comprising fine fibers and second fusible fibers, which are fused in the fine fiber layer, wherein part of the fine fibers are incorporated into the fused fiber layer, so that in determining a delamination strength between the fused fiber layer and the fine fiber layer, delamination occurs in the fine fiber layer and therefore the determination results in failure. A process for manufacturing the separator includes preparing a fused fiber sheet, preparing a slurry containing fine fibers and second fusible fibers, scooping up the slurry with the fused fiber sheet, to thereby incorporate part of the fine fibers into the fused fiber sheet, and fusing the second fusible fibers in the fused fiber sheet.

Abstract: An alkaline battery comprises an electrode. The electrode has a current collector and an active substance filled in the current collector. The current collector includes a nonwoven fabric fabricated from a plurality of fibers and a nickel-plating film formed on the plurality of fibers. A specific surface area per unit volume of the current collector is 0.13 m2/cm3-0.35 m2/cm3.

Abstract: Disclosed is a battery separator consisting essentially of a nonwoven fabric having a substantially unilayered structure, wherein an apparent total surface area of fibers per a surface density of the nonwoven fabric is 20 m2 or more, a thickness of the nonwoven fabric is 0.1 mm or less, a uniformity index of the nonwoven fabric is 0.15 or less, and the nonwoven fabric contains fine fibers having a fiber diameter of 4 ?m or less.

Abstract: A battery separator comprising a nonwoven fabric, wherein the nonwoven fabric contains (1) superfine fibers having a fiber diameter of 3 ?m or less, (2) noncircular fine fibers having a noncircular cross-sectional shape and having a fiber diameter of 3 to 5 ?m (excluding 3 ?m), the fiber diameter meaning a diameter of a circle having an area the same as that of the noncircular cross-sectional shape, and (3) polypropylene based high-strength composite fibers containing a fusible component on the surface thereof and having a tensile strength of 4.5 cN/dtex or more, and the fusible component contained in the polypropylene based high-strength composite fibers is fused, and a battery comprising the battery separator are disclosed. A battery separator of the present invention has a high electrolyte-holding capacity and is capable of effectively preventing a short circuit, even if the separator is designed to be thinner to enhance the capacity of a battery.

Abstract: An alkaline battery comprises an electrode. The electrode has a current collector and an active substance filled in the current collector. The current collector includes a nonwoven fabric fabricated from a plurality of fibers and a nickel-plating film formed on the plurality of fibers. A specific surface area per unit volume of the current collector is 0.13 m2/cm3-0.35 m2/cm3.

Abstract: An alkaline battery separator which enables the preparation of a battery with a good yield and workability is provided. The alkaline battery separator of the present invention comprises a fiber sheet mainly comprising hydrophilicity-imparted polyolefin fibers having a fiber diameter of 8 &mgr;m or more, and a part of the hydrophilicity-imparted polyolefin fibers is composed of high-strength fibers having a tensile strength of 5 g/d or more.

Abstract: A battery separator is provided which is hardly broken by tension during the manufacture of batteries, is hardly punctured with a plate flash, and is hardly torn off with a plate edge, thereby hardly causing a short circuit. Accordingly, the separator can facilitate the stable manufacture of the batteries. The battery separator is equipped with a fiber sheet containing a polypropylene fiber having a tensile strength of not less than 10 g/d (denier) and a Young's modulus of not less than 800 kg/mm2, said separator having a resistance of not less than 585 gf to puncture by edge, or is equipped with a fiber sheet containing not less than 10 mass % of a polypropylene fiber having a tensile strength of not less than 10 g/d (denier) and a Young's modulus of not less than 800 kg/mm2.

Abstract: An alkaline battery separator comprising a gas-permeable sheet which contains a hydrophilic portion carrying a methacrylic/ethylene copolymer component having a crystallinity of 25% or more on at least a part of a surface of said hydrophilic portion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a battery separator consisting essentially of a nonwoven fabric having a substantially unilayered structure, wherein an apparent total surface area of fibers per a surface density of the nonwoven fabric is 20 m2/m2 or more, a thickness of the nonwoven fabric is 0.1 mm or less, a uniformity index of the nonwoven fabric is 0.15 or less, and the nonwoven fabric contains fine fibers having a fiber diameter of 4 &mgr;m or less.

Abstract: An alkaline battery separator which enables the preparation of a battery with a good yield and workability is provided. The alkaline battery separator of the present invention comprises a fiber sheet mainly comprising hydrophilicity-imparted polyolefin fibers having a fiber diameter of 8 ?m or more, and a part of the hydrophilicity-imparted polyolefin fibers is composed of high-strength fibers having a tensile strength of 5 g/d or more.