Abstract: Object: To provide heat-expandable microspheres with which large-diameter foamed particles which are lightweight and have enhanced strength, cushioning properties, and the like can be formed. Resolution Means: Heat-expandable microspheres having a foaming agent encapsulated in an outer shell of a polymer, the heat-expandable microspheres having an average particle size (D50) before foaming of from 100 to 500 ?m, and a coefficient of variation of a particle size distribution before foaming (logarithmic scale) of not greater than 15%.

Abstract: The present invention provides a production method and a production apparatus for a polyarylene sulfide (PAS), thus the formation of a floating polymer and the leakage of the floating polymer to the outside of the vessel in a washing step are prevented, to achieve steady production of the polymer with high quality, to improve the yield of the polymer and to reduce environmental load, wherein the floating polymer refers to a particles of the polymer which are floating on the surface of a washing solution, in the upper part of the inside of a washing vessel, as a result of the adhesion of a gas onto the surface of the particles of the polymer.

Abstract: Provided are heat-expandable microspheres in which the water content can be adjusted easily and quickly by efficiently dehydrating the water present in the heat-expandable microspheres. Resolution Means Heat-expandable microspheres having a structure in which a foaming agent is encapsulated inside an outer shell formed from a polymer, the average value of the degrees of circularity, calculated based on a parameter indicating a particle diameter of each particle of the heat-expandable microspheres and a parameter indicating the circumference, being 0.985 or less are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a production method and a production apparatus for a polyarylene sulfide (PAS), thus the formation of a floating polymer and the leakage of the floating polymer to the outside of the vessel in a washing step are prevented, to achieve steady production of the polymer with high quality, to improve the yield of the polymer and to reduce environmental load, wherein the floating polymer refers to a particles of the polymer which are floating on the surface of a washing solution, in the upper part of the inside of a washing vessel, as a result of the adhesion of a gas onto the surface of the particles of the polymer.

Abstract: A housing including a base and cover has an open space that is open to the atmosphere and a closed space that is closed to the atmosphere. The open space contains a laser having a low operating temperature. The closed space contains a heat generating element and the like, which have higher operating temperatures than the laser. The heat generating element is in close contact with the base, which also serves as a heatsink, so that the heat generating element is cooled. Most parts of a motor, which is a heat generating member, are disposed in the closed space. A fan is diagonally disposed with respect to side surfaces of the heat generating element, which has a rectangular shape and flat side surfaces, so as to efficiently blow air toward the heat generating element disposed in the closed space.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing poly(arylene sulfide) which includes: a polymerization step of polymerizing a dihalogenated aromatic compound and at least one sulfur source selected from the group consisting of alkali metal sulfides and alkali metal hydrogen sulfides in an organic amide solvent, preferably in the presence of a phase separating agent; a separation step of separating a polymer from a reaction liquid containing a produced polymer after the polymerization step; a washing step of washing the polymer with a washing liquid that consists of water and/or an organic solvent; and a separated liquid treatment step of bringing both a separated liquid that has been recovered after the separation of the polymer in the separation step and a separated liquid containing a wash waste liquid that has been recovered after the separation of the polymer in the washing step into contact with an alkaline compound. Also disclosed is poly(arylene sulfide).

Abstract: A production process of a poly(arylene sulfide) (PAS), including a polymerization step of forming a PAS from a sulfur source that is an alkali metal (hydro)sulfides and a dihalo-aromatic compound in an organic amide solvent; a separation step of PAS particles; a countercurrent washing step that is a step of washing the PAS particles with water and/or an organic solvent, wherein a downward current of a PAS particle-containing aqueous slurry is continuously brought into countercurrent contact with an upward current of a washing liquid; a PAS particle re-separation step of capturing a washing waste liquid by a PAS particle re-separating unit, in which a micro-slit filter has been installed, and then re-separating the PAS particles from the micro-slit filter, preferably using a backwashing unit, to discharge them; and a collecting step of the PAS particles discharged, and a production apparatus of a poly(arylene sulfide).

Abstract: A production process of a poly(arylene sulfide) (PAS), including a polymerization step of forming a PAS from a sulfur source that is an alkali metal (hydro)sulfides and a dihalo-aromatic compound in an organic amide solvent; a separation step of PAS particles; a countercurrent washing step that is a step of washing the PAS particles with water and/or an organic solvent, wherein a downward current of a PAS particle-containing aqueous slurry is continuously brought into countercurrent contact with an upward current of a washing liquid; a PAS particle re-separation step of capturing a washing waste liquid by a PAS particle re-separating unit, in which a micro-slit filter has been installed, and then re-separating the PAS particles from the micro-slit filter, preferably using a backwashing unit, to discharge them; and a collecting step of the PAS particles discharged, and a production apparatus of a poly(arylene sulfide).

Abstract: A longitudinal solid-liquid countercurrent contact method and apparatus are provided in which an aqueous slurry containing solid particles is supplied from an upper part and is caused to pass through a plurality of contact-processing chambers connected in a vertical direction while being caused to proceed downward, a contacting liquid is supplied from a lower part and is caused to pass through the plurality of contact-processing chambers connected in the vertical direction while being caused to proceed upward, and the aqueous slurry and the contacting liquid are caused to be continuously subjected to countercurrent contact, wherein the viscosity of a liquid phase in at least one of the contact-processing chambers is controlled, and especially the viscosity ?1 of a liquid phase in a contact-processing chamber positioned at an uppermost part is controlled to fall within a range of 0.9??1/?0?2.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing poly(arylene sulfide) which includes: a polymerization step of polymerizing a dihalogenated aromatic compound and at least one sulfur source selected from the group consisting of alkali metal sulfides and alkali metal hydrogen sulfides in an organic amide solvent, preferably in the presence of a phase separating agent; a separation step of separating a polymer from a reaction liquid containing a produced polymer after the polymerization step; a washing step of washing the polymer with a washing liquid that consists of water and/or an organic solvent; and a separated liquid treatment step of bringing both a separated liquid that has been recovered after the separation of the polymer in the separation step and a separated liquid containing a wash waste liquid that has been recovered after the separation of the polymer in the washing step into contact with an alkaline compound. Also disclosed is poly(arylene sulfide).

Abstract: In a process for producing polyarylene sulfide, comprising: reacting an alkali sulfide source and an aromatic dihalide compound in a polar organic solvent to obtain a polymerizate slurry containing polyarylene sulfide particles, by-produced alkali metal salt fine particles and the polar organic solvent, and recovering the polyarylene sulfide particles washed from the polymerizate slurry; the polymerizate slurry is separated by sieving into the polyarylene sulfide particles and a slurry containing the alkali metal salt fine particles, and the separated polyarylene sulfide particles are subjected to a washing step wherein the polyarylene sulfides are introduced into a countercurrent washing apparatus enclosing a movable part and subjected therein to continuous countercurrent contact with a washing liquid. As a result, polyarylene sulfide particles of good quality are produced at a good yield, while pursuing process rationalization.

Abstract: A thermally foamable microsphere having a structure that a foaming agent is encapsulated in an outer shell formed from a polymer, wherein the foaming agent contains isododecane, and a production process of the thermally foamable microsphere by a suspension polymerization process using a polymerizable monomer and a foaming agent containing dodecane.

Abstract: With a motor with an encoder of the invention, a stopper gap formed between a stopper formed on an outer circumferential surface of a hub of the encoder and a bearing cover of an anti-load side bracket is set smaller than an encoder gap to prevent that a rotating disk is made contact with a fixed slit even when an excessive force is applied to an output shaft of the motor with the encoder.

Abstract: A canned linear motor armature comprising an armature winding constituted by a coil group including a plurality of formed coils formed in a flat plate shape. A metal-made chassis is provided to surround the armature winding by a frame-like shape. A can hermetically closes two opening portions of the chassis. The coil group is interposed by a wiring board having a wiring portion and a resin-made frame of a bath tub shape. The frame is opened only at a face side of the wiring board. A periphery of the formed coils surrounded by the wiring board and the frame is configured to be injection-molded by a mold or a potting resin.

Abstract: A canned linear motor armature includes an armature winding, a picture-frame-shaped casing, a flat can, and a plurality of refrigerant flow channels. The armature winding includes a coil. The picture-frame-shaped casing has an opening and encloses the armature winding. The flat can has a plate surface to close and seal the opening of the picture-frame-shaped casing. The plurality of refrigerant flow channels are provided within the can to face the coil of the armature winding.

Abstract: A housing including a base and cover has an open space that is open to the atmosphere and a closed space that is closed to the atmosphere. The open space contains a laser having a low operating temperature. The closed space contains a heat generating element and the like, which have higher operating temperatures than the laser. The heat generating element is in close contact with the base, which also serves as a heatsink, so that the heat generating element is cooled. Most parts of a motor, which is a heat generating member, are disposed in the closed space. A fan is diagonally disposed with respect to side surfaces of the heat generating element, which has a rectangular shape and flat side surfaces, so as to efficiently blow air toward the heat generating element disposed in the closed space.

Abstract: A dehydration step is conducted by heating a mixture containing an organic amide solvent and a sulfur source including an alkali metal hydrosulfide, and a part of an overall charged amount of an alkali metal hydroxide as needed. The mixture remaining within the system after the dehydration step is mixed with a dihalo-aromatic compound, the resultant mixture is heated to conduct a polymerization reaction, and the alkali metal hydroxide is added to the mixture for polymerization reaction continuously or in portions to control the pH of the mixture for polymerization reaction within a range of from 7 to 12.5 from the beginning to the end of the polymerization reaction. The poly(arylene sulfide) according to the present invention has a nitrogen content of at most 800 ppm.

Abstract: With a motor with an encoder of the invention, a stopper gap formed between a stopper formed on an outer circumferential surface of a hub of the encoder and a bearing cover of an anti-load side bracket is set smaller than an encoder gap to prevent that a rotating disk is made contact with a fixed slit even when an excessive force is applied to an output shaft of the motor with the encoder.

Abstract: A canned linear motor armature includes an armature winding, a picture-frame-shaped casing, a flat can, and a plurality of refrigerant flow channels. The armature winding includes a coil. The picture-frame-shaped casing has an opening and encloses the armature winding. The flat can has a plate surface to close and seal the opening of the picture-frame-shaped casing. The plurality of refrigerant flow channels are provided within the can to face the coil of the armature winding.

Abstract: There is provided a method for producing a poly(arylene sulfide) in which a dihalo-aromatic compound and an alkali metal halide are polymerized by heating in an organic amide solvent, wherein the cooling time for the polymerization reaction system is significantly reduced. After the polymerization process, there is provided a cooling process for cooling the polymerization reaction system comprising a liquid phase containing the product poly (arylene sulfide) and the organic amide solvent and a vapor phase containing a gas component (A); and in the cooling process, the gas component (A) in the vapor phase is cooled while the content of a low boiling gas component (A1), which has a lower boiling point than water and exists in the gas component (A), is reduced in the vapor phase of the polymerization system.