Abstract: This invention provides a polylactic acid resin composition in which stereocomplex crystals of poly-L-lactic acid and poly-D-lactic acid can be selectively crystallized to obtain polylactic acid having a sufficiently high speed of crystallization and a sufficiently high ratio of stereocomplex crystal and a molded article thereof obtained via melt molding and crystallization of the same. Such polylactic acid resin composition comprises polylactic acid capable of generating stereocomplex crystallization and an aromatic urea compound represented by formula (1): wherein R1 represents an alkylene group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; R2 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 25 carbon atoms; and m is an integer between 1 to 6.

Abstract: Disclosed is an emulsification/dispersion system, which comprises an emulsification/dispersion apparatus, and a multistage depressurization module connected to the outlet side of the emulsification/dispersion apparatus directly or through a heat exchanger. The multistage depressurization module is provided with a plurality of depressurization cells arranged in a multistage manner through seals, and adapted to apply a given backpressure to the emulsification/dispersion apparatus and to reduce the backpressure in a stepwise manner through the series of depressurization cells so as to prevent the occurrence of bubbling even when an emulsified liquid is released to atmosphere. The present invention can prevent the occurrence of bubbling in both processes of forming an emulsified liquid and taking out the emulsified liquid as a product.

Abstract: Disclosed is an agitating device (3) to be disposed in a batch-type vessel or the like. The agitating device (3) has an upper cover plate (5), a bottom cover plate (6), an impeller (7), an inner screen member (8), and first and second outer screen members (9, 10). When a mixed liquid including a dispersoid and a dispersion medium passes through liquid communication holes (19) of the inner screen member (8) and liquid communication holes (22, 25) of the outer screen members (9, 10) during the course where it flows outward from the impeller (7) to get out of an interplate space, the circumferential component of the flow vector of the mixed liquid is mostly eliminated to allow the mixed liquid to have substantially only the radial component. This prevents the generation of vortexes so as to apply a sufficiently high shearing force to the mixed liquid to effectively prevent the formation of macro bubbles in the mixed liquid.

Abstract: Lactic acid with high optical purity that has not previously been achieved is produced. It has been found that the optical purity of lactic acid is reduced as the racemization reaction of lactic acid proceeds when lactic acid coexists with glycerol. By reducing the amount of glycerol prior to concentrating lactic acid by heating, the optical purity of lactic acid after concentration by heating can be maintained at a high level.

Abstract: There are provided a polylactic acid resin composition in which stereocrystals of poly-L-lactic acid and poly-D-lactic acid can be selectively crystallized to obtain polylactic acid having a sufficiently high stereocrystals ratio, a process for producing the same, and a polylactic acid molded article obtained from the same having a sufficiently high stereocrystals ratio. The polylactic acid resin composition is characterized by comprising a polylactic acid-lamellar clay mineral bonded body consisting of a lamellar clay mineral and one of poly-L-lactic acid and poly-D-lactic acid which is bonded to the lamellar clay mineral, and the other of poly-L-lactic acid and poly-D-lactic acid which is not bonded to the lamellar clay mineral.

Abstract: A polylactic acid composition containing polylactic acid and ester-based plasticizer, wherein a content of the ester-based plasticizer is 16 to 33 wt %, and when the composition is highly deformed by stress loading as the relation between the stress and the deformation deviates from linear viscoelastic behavior and thereafter the stress is released, residual deformation measured after the stress is released is not less than 66.0% after 0.2 minute of the stress release, and is not more than 34.0% after 240 hours of the stress release.

Abstract: The polylactic acid composite material of the present invention comprises a polylactic acid, a low molecular weight compound which has an amide group, and a layered clay mineral that is organically modified by means of an organic onium salt. As a result, a polylactic acid composite material that has a sufficiently rapid crystallization rate, and that is superior in terms of heat resistance, moldability and mold release characteristics can be obtained.

Abstract: An aliphatic polyester composition contains a low-molecular-weight aliphatic polyester having weight-average molecular weight of 5000 to 35000 and a high-molecular-weight aliphatic polyester having weight-average molecular weight of 120000 to 1000000.

Abstract: A Polymer Electrolyte Membrane is formed by hot air drying of a membrane formed with an acidic main-polymer having proton conductivity and capability of forming an electrolyte membrane (S12), and then immersing it into a basic polymer solution to impregnate the membrane with the basic polymer (S14). The basic polymer is introduced in a large quantity into a site acting as a proton conduction pass of the main-polymer to take charge of the proton conduction. Since in the Polymer Electrolyte Membrane, a base polymer takes charge of proton conduction as compared with the case where proton takes charge of the proton conduction as a hydrate, the base polymer shows favorable proton conductivity even in a low humidity state at an elevated temperature exceeding boiling point of water.

Abstract: Disclosed is an agitating device (3) to be disposed in a batch-type vessel or the like. The agitating device (3) has an upper cover plate (5), a bottom cover plate (6), an impeller (7), an inner screen member (8), and first and second outer screen members (9, 10). When a mixed liquid including a dispersoid and a dispersion medium passes through liquid communication holes (19) of the inner screen member (8) and liquid communication holes (22, 25) of the outer screen members (9, 10) during the course where it flows outward from the impeller (7) to get out of an interplate space, the circumferential component of the flow vector of the mixed liquid is mostly eliminated to allow the mixed liquid to have substantially only the radial component. This prevents the generation of vortexes so as to apply a sufficiently high shearing force to the mixed liquid to effectively prevent the formation of macro bubbles in the mixed liquid.

Abstract: Disclosed is an emulsification/dispersion system, which comprises an emulsification/dispersion apparatus, and a multistage depressurization module connected to the outlet side of the emulsification/dispersion apparatus directly or through a heat exchanger. The multistage depressurization module is provided with a plurality of depressurization cells arranged in a multistage manner through seals, and adapted to apply a given backpressure to the emulsification/dispersion apparatus and to reduce the backpressure in a stepwise manner through the series of depressurization cells so as to prevent the occurrence of bubbling even when an emulsified liquid is released to atmosphere. The present invention can prevent the occurrence of bubbling in both processes of forming an emulsified liquid and taking out the emulsified liquid as a product.

Abstract: A data conversion apparatus comprises an image recognition section for recognizing individual images in a page represented by page description language, an image analyzing section performing an image analysis to extract the features on the individual images recognized by the image recognition section, and an image correction section that applies an image correction processing according to an analysis result analyzed by the image analyzing section to an associated image of the page.

Abstract: The polylactic acid composite material of the present invention comprises a polylactic acid, a low molecular weight compound which has an amide group, and a layered clay mineral that is organically modified by means of an organic onium salt. As a result, a polylactic acid composite material that has a sufficiently rapid crystallization rate, and that is superior in terms of heat resistance, moldability and mold release characteristics can be obtained.

Abstract: A Polymer Electrolyte Membrane is formed by hot air drying of a membrane formed with an acidic main-polymer having proton conductivity and capability of forming an electrolyte membrane (S12), and then immersing it into a basic polymer solution to polymer (S14). The basic polymer is introduced in a large quantity into a site acting as a proton conduction pass of the main-polymer to take charge of the proton conduction. Since in the Polymer Electrolyte Membrane, a base polymer takes charge of proton conduction as compared with the case where proton takes charge of the proton conduction as a hydrate, the base polymer shows favorable proton conductivity even in a low humidity state at an elevated temperature exceeding boiling point of water.

Abstract: A first process for producing a modified electrolyte consistent with the present invention comprises an amine treatment step of contacting a solid polymer electrolyte or a precursor thereof with an amine compound. Further, a first modified electrolyte consistent with the present invention consists essentially of what is obtained in such a process. A second process for producing the modified electrolyte consistent with the present invention includes a step of introducing, to a solid polymer compound having a functional group A, a first modifying agent comprising at least one functional group B capable of reacting with the functional group A thereby forming a first intermediate acid group; and the step also includes reacting the functional group A and the functional group B.

Abstract: Poly(cyclic conjugated diene) polymers are prepared by polymerizing a cyclic conjugated diene monomer or cyclic conjugated diene monomer and a double bond-containing monomer using a transition metal catalyst, preferably a Ni-based catalyst, in a non-polar solvent containing a basic compound or an aromatic halide solvent. The poly(cyclic conjugated diene) polymer may then be subsequently modified by reaction of at least one of the double bonds of the polymer with a modifying substance, for example hydrogen.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel poly(cyclic conjugated diene) and a process for producing the same; and a modifying product, a hydrogenated product, and a poly(cyclic conjugated diene) comprising phenylene thereof.

Abstract: Providing an isomerization process which can isomerize allenes to alkynes less expensively and stably is an assignment to be solved by the present invention and given thereto. The present invention is an isomerization process including the step of reacting an allene-lype hydrocarbon compound (R.sub.1 R.sub.2 C.dbd.C.dbd.CR.sub.3 R.sub.4) in the presence of alkaline-earth metal hydride working as an isomerization catalyst, thereby isomerizing the allene-type hydrocarbon compound to an alkyne-type hydrocarbon compound (R.sub.1 C.ident.C--CR.sub.2 R.sub.3 R.sub.4).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing microcapsules (fat emulsion or liposome) of high stability and smaller mean particle size with a smaller energy and in a shorter treating time. Prior to dispersing a phospholipid treating liquid in a high speed rotary dispersing machine, a treating tank of the high speed rotary dispersing machine is filled up with only the treating liquid. Dispersion of the treating liquid is conducted by rotating at high speed while the treating tank is pressurized to reduce cavitation generation. For precision dispersion of this treating liquid, it is transferred into a precision dispersion apparatus, such as high pressure homogenizer, without contacting with a gas phase. The method reduces the mean particle size of the microcapsules to increase their stability for a long time period.

Abstract: The invention features linear copolymers prepared from mixtures of allenes and alkynes. The new copolymers have the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 through R.sub.6 are, independently, H, an alkyl, an aryl, a phenyl or substituted phenyl, an alkoxy, or an aryloxyl, x+n is 1 to 10,000, and m is 1 to 10,000. The invention also features efficient methods of preparing the new copolymers using nickel or palladium catalysts.