Abstract: Disclosed are a hydrogen storage alloy which contains carbon in a proportion of from 30 to 500 ppm and is represented by the stoichiometric formula A.sub.x B.sub.5.0, wherein A is La or a mixture of La with at least one rare earth metal other than La, B is at least one metal selected from a group consisting of Al, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Ti, V, Zn and Zr, and x is a rational number in the range 0.95.ltoreq..times..ltoreq.1.00; and has a texture in which only the intermetallic compound phase named AB.sub.5 phase is present and every other intermetallic compound phase is absent: and a method of producing said alloy and an electrode using the same.

Abstract: Inventive rare earth oxide voidless spherical grains having a mean grain diameter of from about 20-300 .mu.m formed by granulating a rare earth oxide powder having a mean grain diameter of 1 .mu.m or less are disclosed. A granulation method is disclosed comprising slurrying a rare earth oxide powder by dispersing it in water, admixing a salt of an organic acid with the slurry, and spray-drying the slurry.

Abstract: Inventive rare earth oxide voidless spherical grains having a mean grain diameter of from about 30-300 .mu.m formed by agglomerating a rare earth oxide powder having a mean grain diameter of 1 .mu.m or less are disclosed. An agglomeration method is disclosed comprising slurrying a rare earth oxide powder by dispersing it in water, admixing a salt of an organic acid with the slurry, and spray-drying the slurry.

Abstract: A polymerization vessel equipped with a condenser is charged with vinyl chloride, a suspending agent or dispersing agent, and water. The mixture is subjected to a preparatory stirring in the absence of a catalyst. The polymerization catalyst is added thereto when bubbling caused by the preparatory stirring subsides and stable suspended oil drops form. Blockage of the condenser by polymer scale deposition is substantially reduced. The addition of an alkaline substance, an oxidizing substance or an azine dye further reduces polymer scale deposition. Preferably the operation of the condenser is initiated only after the conversion rate is higher than 5% or the average value per unit hour.

Abstract: Vinyl chloride monomer is polymerized in aqueous medium under the influence of oil soluble polymerization initiators in the presence of alkali metal salts of higher fatty acid, higher alcohols and/or higher fatty acids, and hydroxides of alkali metals in certain amounts respectively, to produce vinyl chloride resin, stable for making resin/plasticizer pastes, mostly composed of particles having diameters lying between 0.1 and 2 microns. The resins are suitable for making resin/plasticizer pastes that have a low initial viscosity, little change in viscosities during storage, good thermal stability and excellent degassing property. Reduced deposition of polymer scales on the walls of the polymerization vessels was successful.