Abstract: Disclosed are an aqueous pigment dispersion containing at least a pigment, water, a high-molecular dispersant, and an alkali. The high-molecular dispersant is a diblock polymer having a formula (1) of A-B or a triblock polymer having a formula (2) of A-B-C. The diblock or triblock polymer is a diblock or triblock polymer obtained by polymerizing addition-polymerizable monomers with a radical generator while using an organic iodide as a polymerization initiating compound and an organic phosphorus compound, organic nitrogen compound or organic oxygen compound as a catalyst. Also disclosed are a production method and use of the aqueous pigment dispersion. With the high-molecular dispersant obtained by a simple living radical polymerization process free of the problems of conventional living radical polymerization and having a precisely-controlled molecular structure, the aqueous pigment dispersion can be obtained with the pigment dispersed in it.

Abstract: A plurality of microscopic grooves are created on the surface of the teeth of planetary gears, and thus, irregular unevenness is created. This irregular unevenness includes a plurality of first microscopic grooves which function as lubricant grooves and a plurality of second microscopic grooves which are shallower than the first microscopic grooves.

Abstract: Disclosed are an aqueous pigment dispersion containing at least a pigment, water, a high-molecular dispersant, and an alkali. The high-molecular dispersant is a diblock polymer having a formula (1) of A-B or a triblock polymer having a formula (2) of A-B-C. The diblock or triblock polymer is a diblock or triblock polymer obtained by polymerizing addition-polymerizable monomers with a radical generator while using an organic iodide as a polymerization initiating compound and an organic phosphorus compound, organic nitrogen compound or organic oxygen compound as a catalyst. Also disclosed are a production method and use of the aqueous pigment dispersion. With the high-molecular dispersant obtained by a simple living radical polymerization process free of the problems of conventional living radical polymerization and having a precisely-controlled molecular structure, the aqueous pigment dispersion can be obtained with the pigment dispersed in it.

Abstract: This invention relates a copolymer (D) containing (A) methacrylic polymer units each having, at an end thereof, at least one group represented by the below-described formula (1) and (B) units of an aromatic vinyl monomer, wherein a weight ratio (A:B) of the units (A) to the units (B) is A:B=5 to 95:95 to 5; and its use. The present invention can provide inter alia a copolymer useful as a pigment dispersant or the like capable of affording pigment dispersions useful for inkjet inks, colors for color filters, and other applications.

Abstract: A friction clutch includes an iron inner clutch plate and two iron outer clutch plates. Each clutch plate has a sliding surface that friction-engages with the other clutch plates. A diamond-like carbon film containing silicon, which functions as a solid lubricant, is formed on the sliding surface of each outer clutch plate through a conventional method such as plasma chemical vapor deposition. The diamond-like carbon film contains 1 wt % to 80 wt % of silicon. A coupling device includes a pilot clutch mechanism that has the friction clutch and an electromagnetic actuator. As a result, the friction clutch has an improved resistance to wear, and the coupling device is durable.

Abstract: An amorphous carbon film forming apparatus according to the present invention is characterized by being provided with a film forming furnace 11; plural workpiece fixtures 23 for supporting plural plate-like workpieces 22 in a state that the same are piled up vertically in parallel with the interval between facing surfaces of two vertically adjoining of the plate-like workpieces 22 being in a range of 2 to 30 millimeters, the plural workpiece fixtures 23 being arranged within the film forming furnace 11 at a regular angular interval on a circle and being connected to a negative electrode; nozzles 31, 32 provided for supplying a processing gas and including at least one nozzle arranged at a center of the circle on which the plural workpiece fixtures 23 are arranged and plural nozzles arranged at a regular angular interval on another circle which surrounds the workpieces fixtures 23 radially outside thereof; and a plasma power supply connected to at least the workpiece fixtures 23.

Abstract: This invention relates a copolymer (D) containing (A) methacrylic polymer units each having, at an end thereof, at least one group represented by the below-described formula (1) and (B) units of an aromatic vinyl monomer, wherein a weight ratio (A:B) of the units (A) to the units (B) is A:B=5 to 95:95 to 5; and its use. The present invention can provide inter alia a copolymer useful as a pigment dispersant or the like capable of affording pigment dispersions useful for inkjet inks, colors for color filters, and other applications.

Abstract: A drive force transmission device has an outer clutch plate and an inner clutch plate, which are rotatable relative to each other about a common rotational axis. The inner and outer clutch plates become frictionally engaged with each other with lubricant oil provided in between. The outer and inner clutch plates each have a sliding surface. The sliding surfaces face each other. A diamond-like carbon film is formed on the sliding surface of the outer clutch plate. Fine grooves are formed in the sliding surface of the inner clutch plate. The proportion of the sliding area to the sliding surface of the inner clutch plate at the initial stage of use is 55 to 90%.

Abstract: An aqueous pigment dispersion is produced by ultrafinely dispersing a pigment dispersion mixture, which has been obtained by mixing at least a pigment and a dispersant in an aqueous medium, with microbeads having diameters of not smaller than 0.02 mm but smaller than 0.2 mm. A color composition for a color filter is produced by dispersing a mixture of a pigment, a dispersant, a resin varnish and a solvent with the microbeads in a mill.

Abstract: An amorphous carbon film forming apparatus according to the present invention is characterized by being provided with a film forming furnace 11; plural workpiece fixtures 23 for supporting plural plate-like workpieces 22 in a state that the same are piled up vertically in parallel with the interval between facing surfaces of two vertically adjoining of the plate-like workpieces 22 being in a range of 2 to 30 millimeters, the plural workpiece fixtures 23 being arranged within the film forming furnace 11 at a regular angular interval on a circle and being connected to a negative electrode; nozzles 31, 32 provided for supplying a processing gas and including at least one nozzle arranged at a center of the circle on which the plural workpiece fixtures 23 are arranged and plural nozzles arranged at a regular angular interval on another circle which surrounds the workpieces fixtures 23 radially outside thereof; and a plasma power supply connected to at least the workpiece fixtures 23.

Abstract: A plurality of microscopic grooves are created on the surface of the teeth of planetary gears, and thus, irregular unevenness is created. This irregular unevenness includes a plurality of first microscopic grooves which function as lubricant grooves and a plurality of second microscopic grooves which are shallower than the first microscopic grooves.

Abstract: A water-based pigment ink contains a pigment, a hydrophilic dispersant, an aqueous medium, an alkali agent for solubilizing the hydrophilic dispersant in the aqueous medium, and a hydrophilic compound having at least one structural unit of “hydrophobic molecular chain-hydrophilic molecular chain-hydrophobic molecular chain” in a structure thereof. The water-based pigment ink is suited especially as an ink for ink-jet printers.

Abstract: A vehicle drive device 20 is composed of an electric motor 20a, a differential gear 20d for distributing and transmitting the drive power from the electric motor 20a to right and left drive wheels, and a clutch 20c for making intermittent the coupling capable of transmitting the drive power between the differential gear 20d side and the electric motor 20a side. The clutch 20c is of the type having a self-locking function and is arranged coaxially of the differential gear 20d at one side of the differential gear 20d.

Abstract: A drive force transmission device has an outer clutch plate and an inner clutch plate, which are rotatable relative to each other about a common rotational axis. The inner and outer clutch plates become frictionally engaged with each other with lubricant oil provided in between. The outer and inner clutch plates each have a sliding surface. The sliding surfaces face each other. A diamond-like carbon film is formed on the sliding surface of the outer clutch plate. Fine grooves are formed in the sliding surface of the inner clutch plate. The proportion of the sliding area to the sliding surface of the inner clutch plate at the initial stage of use is 55 to 90%.

Abstract: Image-recording, hydrophilic colorants having an organic pigment linked to a hydrophilic compound through a linking group and which are capable of forming images excellent in print quality such as chroma, gloss, density, light fastness and abrasion fastness, and also as hydrophilic colorants capable of affording inks excellent in physical properties such as long-term storability and press stability are described.

Abstract: Fluorescent colorant compositions contain a pigment and a resin. The pigment is a crystalline, azo-based, fluorescent pigment obtained from a coupling reaction of a specific diazo compound, which was obtained from a particular aromatic amine, with a particular acetoacetylamino-containing aromatic coupler. As crystalline characteristics of the crystalline, azo-based, fluorescent pigment, the ratio (h/w) of a height (h) of a maximum peak to its half-value width (w) in a diffraction angle (20) range of from 5 to 35° in an x-ray diffraction spectrum of the pigment may preferably be 20 or greater. Also disclosed are coloring processes and colored articles, which make use of the fluorescent colorant compositions.

Abstract: A drive power transmission device is disclosed having a drive mechanism for transmitting a drive power between first and second rotary members rotatable relative to each other, by the operation of an electromagnetic type clutch mechanism which brings a friction clutch into connection. A magnetic path generated around an electromagnet of the electromagnetic type clutch mechanism includes a clutch magnetic path in which a magnetic flux passes to reciprocate plural times across th friction clutch, and diamond-like carbon surface treatment is given on a part or all of the friction contact surfaces of the friction clutch to form a hard amorphous carbon film thereon. Thus, the transmission device can be constructed using a smaller number of the outer and inner plates for the electromagnetic type clutch mechanism, so that it can take a small construction with a longer durability life.

Abstract: Image-recording, hydrophilic colorants represented by the below-described formula (1) are disclosed. These colorants can be provided as colorants capable of forming images excellent in print quality such as chroma, gloss, density, light fastness and abrasion fastness, and also as hydrophilic colorants capable of affording inks excellent in physical properties such as long-term storability and press stability. [organic pigment]?[linking group]?[hydrophilic compound]??(1) wherein the [organic pigment] is a hydrophobic pigment having no hydrophilic group by itself, the [linking group] is a group linking the [organic pigment] and the [hydrophilic compound] with each other and blocking an effect of the [hydrophilic compound] on the [organic pigment], and the [hydrophilic compound] is an anionic, cationic and/or nonionic, hydrophilic compound.

Abstract: A friction clutch has a plurality of iron inner clutch plates and a plurality of iron outer clutch plates. Both the clutch plates have sliding surfaces which are friction-engaged each other. A thin carbon film in a diamond form, which functions as a solid lubricant, is formed on each of the sliding surfaces of the outer clutch plates by a known method such as the Chemical Vapor Deposition method. A known nitride treatment or quenching and tempering treatment is applied to the sliding surfaces of the inner clutch plates. A coupling device has a pilot clutch mechanism with the friction clutch and an electromagnetic actuator. As a result, the friction clutch is resistant to wear and the coupling device is excellent in durability.

Abstract: An aqueous pigment dispersion is produced by ultrafinely dispersing a pigment dispersion mixture, which has been obtained by mixing at least a pigment and a dispersant in an aqueousmedium, with microbeads having diameters of not smaller than 0.02 mm but smaller than 0.2 mm. A color composition for a color filter is produced by dispersing a mixture of a pigment, a dispersant, a resin varnish and a solvent with the microbeads in a mill.