Abstract: Provided are an active energy ray-curable composition which has a viscosity suitable for coating and also has a super high refractive index at a level higher than ever, a cured product thereof, and a plastic lens. The active energy ray-curable composition contains zirconium oxide nanoparticles (A) and a bicarbazole compound (B) represented by the following structural formula (1) (in the formula, X1 and X2 each independently represent a photopolymerizable functional group, a structural moiety having a photopolymerizable functional group, or a hydrogen atom, provided that at least one of X1 and X2 represents a photopolymerizable functional group or a structural moiety having a photopolymerizable functional group; and R1 and R2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a bromine atom, or a chlorine atom).

Abstract: There is provided a curable composition, which forms a cured product with high light transmittance, a high refractive index, and high scratch resistance, a cured product thereof, and an optical member. A curable composition contains zirconium oxide nanoparticles, a dispersant, and a (meth)acrylate compound. The dispersant has an acid value in the range of 100 to 300 mgKOH/g. The (meth)acrylate compound contains a (meth)acrylate compound having a poly(alkylene oxide) structure.

Abstract: Provided are a cured material having a high refractive index for an optical member obtained by preparing a stable dispersion with a small amount of dispersant, and a process for producing dispersion of fine inorganic particles which is capable of drastically shortening the dispersion process time without causing overdispersion under the conditions of high solid concentration and without using media having a small particle size, which are very expensive and for which available dispersing machines are limited. Provided are a process for producing dispersion of fine inorganic particles using a media type wet dispersing machine, which includes supplying the following (A) to (D) to the wet dispersing machine, provided that (D) is supplied last to the wet dispersing machine: (A) Zirconium oxide nanoparticle, (B) Silane coupling agent, (C) Dispersion medium, and (D) Dispersant; a curable composition containing a dispersion obtained by the producing process; and a cured material obtained therefrom.

Abstract: Provided are an active energy ray-curable composition which has a viscosity suitable for coating and also has a super high refractive index at a level higher than ever, a cured product thereof, and a plastic lens. The active energy ray-curable composition contains zirconium oxide nanoparticles (A) and a bicarbazole compound (B) represented by the following structural formula (1) (in the formula, X1 and X2 each independently represent a photopolymerizable functional group, a structural moiety having a photopolymerizable functional group, or a hydrogen atom, provided that at least one of X1 and X2 represents a photopolymerizable functional group or a structural moiety having a photopolymerizable functional group; and R1 and R2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a bromine atom, or a chlorine atom).

Abstract: There is provided a curable composition, which forms a cured product with high light transmittance, a high refractive index, and high scratch resistance, a cured product thereof, and an optical member. A curable composition contains zirconium oxide nanoparticles, a dispersant, and a (meth)acrylate compound. The dispersant has an acid value in the range of 100 to 300 mgKOH/g. The (meth)acrylate compound contains a (meth)acrylate compound having a poly(alkylene oxide) structure.

Abstract: Provided are a cured material having a high refractive index for an optical member obtained by preparing a stable dispersion with a small amount of dispersant, and a process for producing dispersion of fine inorganic particles which is capable of drastically shortening the dispersion process time without causing overdispersion under the conditions of high solid concentration and without using media having a small particle size, which are very expensive and for which available dispersing machines are limited. Provided are a process for producing dispersion of fine inorganic particles using a media type wet dispersing machine, which includes supplying the following (A) to (D) to the wet dispersing machine, provided that (D) is supplied last to the wet dispersing machine: (A) Zirconium oxide nanoparticle, (B) Silane coupling agent, (C) Dispersion medium, and (D) Dispersant; a curable composition containing a dispersion obtained by the producing process; and a cured material obtained therefrom.

Abstract: A valve device includes: a poppet that is formed in a hollow shaft shape except for a leading end, has a tapered closure part at the leading end and a side hole passing through a wall of the hollow shaft-shaped part, and rotates around a shaft center thereof during opening and closing actions; and a valve seat having a sloped seat surface with which the closure part of the poppet comes into contact when closing the valve device. The closure part of the poppet or the seat surface of the valve seat, whichever has a higher hardness, has a cut mark of the opposite direction from a direction of rotation of the poppet around the shaft center that occurs during the valve closing action.

Abstract: In a fuel cell, a cathode passage extends from an oxidizing gas supply hole to an oxidizing gas discharge hole. A turn interval at which a flow direction of an oxidizing gas returns to an original direction in an upstream-side passage region is different from the turn interval in a downstream-side passage region. A ratio between the turn interval in the upstream-side passage region and the turn interval in the downstream-side passage region is set to 1.1:1 to 3:1. The upstream-side passage region is overlapped with a most downstream-side passage portion of an anode passage with a membrane electrode assembly interposed between the upstream-side passage region and the most downstream-side passage portion.

Abstract: A valve device includes: a poppet that is formed in a hollow shaft shape except for a leading end, has a tapered closure part at the leading end and a side hole passing through a wall of the hollow shaft-shaped part, and rotates around a shaft center thereof during opening and closing actions; and a valve seat having a sloped seat surface with which the closure part of the poppet comes into contact when closing the valve device. The closure part of the poppet or the seat surface of the valve seat, whichever has a higher hardness, has a cut mark of the opposite direction from a direction of rotation of the poppet around the shaft center that occurs during the valve closing action.

Abstract: In a fuel cell, a cathode passage extends from an oxidizing gas supply hole to an oxidizing gas discharge hole. A turn interval at which a flow direction of an oxidizing gas returns to an original direction in an upstream-side passage region is different from the turn interval in a downstream-side passage region. A ratio between the turn interval in the upstream-side passage region and the turn interval in the downstream-side passage region is set to 1.1:1 to 3:1. The upstream-side passage region is overlapped with a most downstream-side passage portion of an anode passage with a membrane electrode assembly interposed between the upstream-side passage region and the most downstream-side passage portion.

Abstract: An anode separator of a fuel cell forms: a plurality of gas flow channels arranged in parallel to let a fuel gas flow to an MEA; a supply passage configured to supply the plurality of gas flow channels with the fuel gas; and a recovery passage configured to recover the fuel gas from the plurality of gas flow channels. The plurality of gas flow channels include: a gas flow channel connects the supply passage and the recovery passage; and a gas flow channel having the supply passage side blocked.

Abstract: A fuel cell is disclosed comprising: a power generation layer including an electrolyte membrane, and an anode and a cathode provided on respective surfaces of the electrolyte membrane; a fuel gas flow path layer located on a side of the anode of the power generation layer to supply a fuel gas to the anode while flowing the fuel gas along a flow direction of the fuel gas approximately orthogonal to a stacking direction in which respective layers of the fuel cell are stacked; and an oxidizing gas flow path layer located on a side of the cathode of the power generation layer to supply an oxidizing gas to the cathode while flowing the oxidizing gas along a flow direction of the oxidizing gas opposed to the flow direction of the fuel gas.

Abstract: An anode separator of a fuel cell forms: a plurality of gas flow channels arranged in parallel to let a fuel gas flow to an MEA; a supply passage configured to supply the plurality of gas flow channels with the fuel gas; and a recovery passage configured to recover the fuel gas from the plurality of gas flow channels. The plurality of gas flow channels include: a gas flow channel connects the supply passage and the recovery passage; and a gas flow channel having the supply passage side blocked.

Abstract: A fuel cell is disclosed comprising: a power generation layer including an electrolyte membrane, and an anode and a cathode provided on respective surfaces of the electrolyte membrane; a fuel gas flow path layer located on a side of the anode of the power generation layer to supply a fuel gas to the anode while flowing the fuel gas along a flow direction of the fuel gas approximately orthogonal to a stacking direction in which respective layers of the fuel cell are stacked; and an oxidizing gas flow path layer located on a side of the cathode of the power generation layer to supply an oxidizing gas to the cathode while flowing the oxidizing gas along a flow direction of the oxidizing gas opposed to the flow direction of the fuel gas.

Abstract: A fuel cell including a power generating body including an electrolyte layer and electrode layers, diffusion layers disposed on opposite major surfaces of the power generating body, separators disposed on major surfaces of the diffusion layers opposite to those facing the power generating body, a first seal formed around the periphery of the power generating body and including an effective seal portion that suppresses leakage of the gas to the outside of the fuel cell between the separators, and a second seal formed integrally with at least one of the diffusion layers to extend along an end face of the diffusion layer. The second seal is in intimate contact with a surface of the power generating body on which the diffusion layer is laminated and a surface of a corresponding one of the separators that is laminated on the diffusion layer.

Abstract: A fuel cell including a power generating body including an electrolyte layer and electrode layers, diffusion layers disposed on opposite major surfaces of the power generating body, separators disposed on major surfaces of the diffusion layers opposite to those facing the power generating body, a first seal formed around the periphery of the power generating body and including an effective seal portion that suppresses leakage of the gas to the outside of the fuel cell between the separators, and a second seal formed integrally with at least one of the diffusion layers to extend along an end face of the diffusion layer. The second seal is in intimate contact with a surface of the power generating body on which the diffusion layer is laminated and a surface of a corresponding one of the separators that is laminated on the diffusion layer.

Abstract: A fuel cell including separators opposing each other and squeezing a power generating reaction portion. Each of the separators includes a gas passage, a gas passage dividing rib, and a protrusion formed in the gas passage. In a first separator, which is an at least one separator of the separators opposing each other via the power generating reaction portion, at a region of the first separator opposing a gas passage dividing rib of a second separator, which is a separator opposing the first separator, a squeezing rib is formed and replaces the protrusion. The squeezing rib and the gas passage dividing rib of the second separator squeezes the power generating reaction portion. At the region of the first separator, a contact area of the squeezing rib with the power generating reaction portion is adapted to be larger than a contact area of the protrusion of the first separator with the power generating reaction portion in a case where the protrusion were formed without forming the squeezing rib.

Abstract: A fuel cell control system is provided which is designed to ensure the stability of operation of a fuel cell stack. The system includes a magnetic sensor and a controller. The magnetic sensor works to measure a change in magnetic flux density of magnetic field produced by an electric current as generated by electrochemical reaction taken place in each of fuel cells. The controller is designed to analyze the change in magnetic flux density measured by the magnetic sensor to specify the cause and location resulting in a drop in ability of the fuel cell stack to generate electricity which is to occur partially in the fuel cell stack. The controller takes a predetermined measure to control the operation of the fuel cell stack for eliminating the drop in ability of the fuel cell stack to generate the electricity.

Abstract: A fuel cell is formed by alternately stacking separators and sealing gasket-combined membrane electrode assemblies. Each sealing gasket-combined membrane electrode assembly includes a membrane electrode assembly and a sealing gasket portion. One of the sealing gasket portion and the separator has a protrusion formed on each face and extending in a stacked direction in which the separators and the sealing gasket-combined membrane electrode assemblies are stacked. The other of the sealing gasket portion and the separator has a recess in which the protrusion is fitted. The protrusions formed respectively on opposed faces of the successive sealing gasket-combined membrane electrode assemblies or the successive separators are located at different positions.

Abstract: A rubber gasket to be disposed in a compressed state between separators of a fuel cell includes a sealing portion having a sectional shape of a two-projection structure with a first projection having a curved slope of a first curvature radius (D), and a second projection provided on the first projection and having a second curvature radius (H). A pedestal portion extends in a horizontal direction with a predetermined thickness continuously from a foot portion of the curved slope of the first projection and has a flat bottom surface.