Abstract: An elastomer material containing immobilized ionic components includes an elastomer, ion-immobilized particles in which first ionic components are immobilized to metallic oxide particles, and second ionic components having electric charges opposite to electric charges of the first ionic components, wherein the ion-immobilized particles are chemically bonded to the elastomer. In the elastomer material, the first ionic components are immobilized to the elastomer through the metallic oxide particles. Therefore, the first ionic components do not easily migrate even with the passage of time or in use. Thus, the elastomer material is less susceptible to temporal changes in properties. The elastomer material is preferably used for the component of a transducer and a conductive roll.

Abstract: A reactive ionic liquid to be used as an ionic component that is contained in an ion-containing layer in a transducer arranged in contact with a high-resistance layer as a dielectric layer of the transducer, and is restrained from migrating from the ion-containing layer to the high-resistance layer on application of a voltage is provided. The reactive ionic liquid comprises an ion pair that consists of an anion and a cation. (a) The cation (a1) is an imidazolium or quaternary ammonium cation, and (a2) comprises a reactive group that consists of an alkoxysilyl or phosphonate group. (b) The anion (b1) is a sulfonate, sulfonylimide, or nitrobenzoate anion.

Abstract: A reactive ionic liquid to be used as an ionic component that is contained in an ion-containing layer in a transducer arranged in contact with a high-resistance layer as a dielectric layer of the transducer, and is restrained from migrating from the ion-containing layer to the high-resistance layer on application of a voltage is provided. The reactive ionic liquid comprises an ion pair that consists of an anion and a cation. In the reactive ionic liquid, (a) the anion comprises (a1) a reactive group that consists of an alkoxysilyl group and (a2) an anionic group consisting of a carboxylate (—COO?) group or a sulfonate (—SO3?) group. (b) The cation (b1) consists of an imidazolium, ammonium, pyrrolidinium, morpholinium, or phosphonium cation, and (b2) does not comprise an N—H group or a P—H group.

Abstract: A dielectric film of the present invention includes an elastomer and barium titanate particles with a crystallinity of 80% or more. The elastomer and each of the barium titanate particles each have a functional group, the functional groups can react with each other, and through the reaction of the functional groups, a cross-linked structure with the elastomer and the barium titanate particles is formed. With this structure, the dielectric constant and volume resistivity of the dielectric film of the present invention are high. A transducer of the present invention includes the dielectric film and a plurality of electrodes with the dielectric film interposed therebetween. The transducer of the present invention is excellent in resistance to dielectric breakdown and can output a large force.

Abstract: A transducer includes a high-resistance layer that includes an elastomer and has a volume resistivity of 1012 ?·cm or more, a pair of electrodes that are arranged on both a front side and a back side of the high-resistance layer and include a binder and a conductive material, and a medium-resistance layer that is interposed between the electrode and the high-resistance layer on at least one of the front side and the back side of the high-resistance layer, includes an elastomer, and has a volume resistivity that is smaller than the volume resistivity of the high-resistance layer by two or more digits. In the transducer, the medium-resistance layer is interposed between at least one electrode and the high-resistance layer to take advantage of the resistance to dielectric breakdown originally possessed by the high-resistance layer, thereby obtaining a larger force by applying a higher voltage.

Abstract: An elastomer material containing immobilized ionic components includes an elastomer, ion-immobilized particles in which first ionic components are immobilized to metallic oxide particles, and second ionic components having electric charges opposite to electric charges of the first ionic components, wherein the ion-immobilized particles are chemically bonded to the elastomer. In the elastomer material, the first ionic components are immobilized to the elastomer through the metallic oxide particles. Therefore, the first ionic components do not easily migrate even with the passage of time or in use. Thus, the elastomer material is less susceptible to temporal changes in properties. The elastomer material is preferably used for the component of a transducer and a conductive roll.

Abstract: A dielectric film includes an elastomer, and metallic oxide particles having a particle diameter of 100 nm or less that are chemically bonded to the elastomer and are dispersed in the elastomer in a state of primary particles. A method for manufacturing the dielectric film includes: a chelating process of adding a chelating agent to an organometallic compound to produce a chelate compound of the organometallic compound; a sol manufacturing process of adding an organic solvent and water to the chelate compound to obtain a sol of metallic oxide particles produced by the hydrolytic reaction of the organometallic compound; a mixed solution preparing process of mixing the sol of the metallic oxide particles and a polymer solution containing a rubber polymer having functional groups that optionally react with hydroxy groups; and a film forming process of applying the mixed solution onto a substrate, and curing the resultant coating film.

Abstract: A dielectric film which has high electrical resistance and excellent durability and a process for producing the dielectric film are provided. Also provided is a transducer which has large displacement and excellent durability. The dielectric film includes a three-dimensional crosslinked body that is synthesized from an organic metal compound, a rubber polymer that is other than a polydimethyl siloxane and has a functional group that is reactive with the organic metal compound, and an inorganic filler that has a functional group that is reactive with the organic metal compound. The transducer is configured by interposing the dielectric film between at least a pair of electrodes.

Abstract: A diaphragm comprising a resin layer for gas shielding, a rubber layer adapted to be adjacent to a gas chamber of an accumulator, and a rubber layer adapted to be adjacent to an oil chamber of an accumulator, the rubber layers formed on opposite sides of the resin layer. The rubber layer adapted to be adjacent to the gas chamber is formed of a mixture of butyl rubber and ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer. Also provided is an accumulator including the above diaphragm.

Abstract: A flexible partition member for a hydraulic accumulator, which divides an interior of a shell of the accumulator into two sections that provide a gas chamber and a liquid chamber, respectively. The flexible partition member includes an integrally layered composite portion which includes at least one gas-barrier layer and at least one elastic layer, each gas-barrier layer containing a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl alcohol, and each elastic layer containing as a major component thereof a polyamide resin selected from the group consisting of nylon 6, nylon 66, nylon 6-10 and nylon 6-12. The integrally layered composite portion includes two adjacent layers which include a gas-barrier layer and an elastic layer.