Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a constant-velocity ball joint which can improve the duration of life by improving the strength and the rigidity of the cage. The thickness in a radial direction of the cage is set to be larger than a contact width in a radial direction of the ball in the window portion of the cage when the joint operating angle is in a maximum value.

Abstract: In a membrane-electrode assembly for polymer electrolyte fuel cells comprising a polymer electrolyte membrane and two gas diffusion electrodes being bonded to the membrane so that the membrane can be between them, at least one catalyst layer constituting the gas diffusion electrodes characterized in that the ion-conductive binder comprises a block copolymer having a particle size of 1 ?m or less comprising a polymer block (A) having ion-conductive groups and a polymer block (B) having no ion-conductive group, both polymer blocks phase separate from each other, polymer block (A) forms a continuous phase, and the contact parts of the block copolymer with catalyst particles are comprised of polymer block (A) having ion-conductive groups; a membrane-electrode assembly and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte membrane comprising as a main ingredient a block copolymer which comprises, as its constituents, a polymer block (A) having as a main unit an aromatic vinyl compound unit and a polymer block (B) forming a flexible phase, and has ion-conducting groups on the polymer block (A), said aromatic vinyl compound unit being such that the hydrogen atom bonded to the ?-carbon atom is non-replaced or replaced with an alkyl group or an aryl group optionally having substituent(s), and at least one of hydrogen atoms directly bonded to the aromatic ring is replaced with an alkyl group; and a membrane electrode assembly and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell both of which uses it. The polymer block (A) can have a restraining phase, and/or can be cross-linked.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polythiophenes having high electrical conductivity, excellent solubility, long-term stability, excellent processability and high regioregularity. Specifically disclosed is regioregular polythiophene represented by chemical formula (1) wherein R1— represents a 4-substituent including an alkyl having 1 to 20 carbon atoms; R2—O— represents a 3-substituent including an alkyl having 1 to 20 carbon atoms; and n represents such a numeral value that the number average molecular weight of the regioregular polythiophene becomes 200 to 1,000,000, wherein the regioregularity of the Head-Tail repeating structure is at least 98%.

Abstract: A system for processing a communication data item. The communication data item is divided into at least two unencrypted packets to be encrypted. Each encrypted packet is generated from a corresponding unencrypted packet. Each unencrypted packet has a packet header and plaintext data. The packet header has an identifier field that includes a packet identifier that is identical for all unencrypted packets. Generating an encrypted packet for each unencrypted packet includes: determining a vector identifier from the identical packet identifier, wherein the vector identifier is associated with the identical packet identifier; ascertaining an initial vector from the vector identifier; and forming an encrypted packet header by inserting the vector identifier into a first portion of the packet header and encrypting a second portion of the packet header through use of the initial vector. The encrypted packets are subsequently decrypted and combined to reconstruct the communication data item.

Abstract: A membrane-electrode assembly for polymer electrolyte fuel cells comprising a polymer electrolyte membrane and two gas diffusion electrodes being bonded to the membrane so that the membrane can be between them, in which assembly each gas diffusion electrode is comprised of an electrode catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer, intermediate layer(s) being an ion conductor is/are arranged between the electrode catalyst layer(s) and the membrane, the ion conductor mainly comprises a block copolymer comprising a polymer block (A) having ion-conductive groups and a polymer block (B) having no ion-conductive group, both blocks phase-separate from each other, (A) forms a continuous phase, and the contact part(s) of the intermediate layer(s) with the polymer electrolyte membrane and the contact part(s) of the intermediate layer(s) with the electrode catalyst layer(s) are comprised of polymer block (A) having ion-conductive groups; and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell wherein the assembly is used.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte membrane comprising as a main ingredient a block copolymer (P) which comprises, as its constituents, a vinyl alcoholic polymer block (A) and a polymer block (B) having ion-conducting groups, which block copolymer (P) is cross-linking treated, and a membrane-electrode assembly and a fuel cell using the polymer electrolyte membrane, respectively. Preferred as polymer block (B) is one having a styrene or vinylnaphthalene skeleton or a 2-(meth)acrylamido-2-methylpropane skeleton. The ion-conducting group includes a sulfonic acid group, a phosphonic acid group or the like.

Abstract: This invention relates to a polymer electrolyte membrane for polymer electrolyte fuel cells, comprising a block copolymer which comprises, as its constituents, a polymer block (A) having as a main unit an aromatic vinyl compound unit whose ?-carbon is quaternary carbon, and a flexible polymer block (B), and has ion-conducting groups on the polymer block (A). The electrolyte membrane of this invention is economical, mild to the environment and excellent in moldability and chemical stability and thus durability, and, therefore, can suitably be used in membrane electrode assemblies and polymer electrolyte fuel cells.

Abstract: This invention relates to an electrochemical device which comprises a molding containing as a main ingredient a copolymer (Z) and at least two mutually insulated electrodes in joint with the molding, wherein the copolymer (Z) comprises a polymer block (A) having as a main unit an aromatic vinyl compound unit and a polymer block (B) being incompatible with the polymer block (A), and has ion-conducting groups on the polymer block (A). The electrochemical device of the invention can be used particularly as an actuator device.

Abstract: A system for processing a communication data item. The communication data item is divided into at least two unencrypted packets to be encrypted. Each encrypted packet is generated from a corresponding unencrypted packet. Each unencrypted packet has a packet header and plaintext data. The packet header has an identifier field that includes a packet identifier that is identical for all unencrypted packets. Generating an encrypted packet for each unencrypted packet includes: determining a vector identifier from the identical packet identifier, wherein the vector identifier is associated with the identical packet identifier; ascertaining an initial vector from the vector identifier; and forming an encrypted packet header by inserting the vector identifier into a first portion of the packet header and encrypting a second portion of the packet header through use of the initial vector. The encrypted packets are subsequently decrypted and combined to reconstruct the communication data item.

Abstract: A method for processing a communication data item. The communication data item is divided into at least two unencrypted packets to be encrypted. Each encrypted packet is generated from a corresponding unencrypted packet. Each unencrypted packet has a packet header and plaintext data. The packet header has an identifier field that includes a packet identifier. The packet identifier is identical for all unencrypted packets. Generating an encrypted packet for each unencrypted packet includes: determining a vector identifier from the identical packet identifier, wherein the vector identifier is associated with the identical packet identifier; ascertaining an initial vector from the vector identifier; and forming an encrypted packet header by inserting the vector identifier into a first portion of the packet header and encrypting a second portion of the packet header through use of the initial vector. The encrypted packets are subsequently decrypted and combined to reconstruct the communication data item.

Abstract: In a membrane-electrode assembly for polymer electrolyte fuel cells comprising a polymer electrolyte membrane and two gas diffusion electrodes being bonded to the membrane so that the membrane can be between them, at least one catalyst layer constituting the gas diffusion electrodes characterized in that the ion-conductive binder comprises a block copolymer having a particle size of 1 ?m or less comprising a polymer block (A) having ion-conductive groups and a polymer block (B) having no ion-conductive group, both polymer blocks phase separate from each other, polymer block (A) forms a continuous phase, and the contact parts of the block copolymer with catalyst particles are comprised of polymer block (A) having ion-conductive groups; a membrane-electrode assembly and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell.

Abstract: A membrane-electrode assembly for polymer electrolyte fuel cells comprising a polymer electrolyte membrane and two gas diffusion electrodes being bonded to the membrane so that the membrane can be between them, in which assembly each gas diffusion electrode is comprised of an electrode catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer, intermediate layer(s) being an ion conductor is/are arranged between the electrode catalyst layer(s) and the membrane, the ion conductor mainly comprises a block copolymer comprising a polymer block (A) having ion-conductive groups and a polymer block (B) having no ion-conductive group, both blocks phase-separate from each other, (A) forms a continuous phase, and the contact part(s) of the intermediate layer(s) with the polymer electrolyte membrane and the contact part(s) of the intermediate layer(s) with the electrode catalyst layer(s) are comprised of polymer block (A) having ion-conductive groups; and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell wherein the assembly is used.

Abstract: A multilayer electrolyte membrane for polymer electrolyte fuel cells, consisting of a laminate of at least two polymer electrolyte membranes at least one of which membranes comprises a block copolymer (I) which comprises, as its constituents, a polymer block (A) having as a main unit an aromatic vinyl compound unit and a flexible polymer block (B), and has ion-conducting groups on polymer block (A); and a membrane electrode assembly and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. The multilayer membrane is economical, mild to the environment, and has high ion conductivity and high methanol barrier properties, together. It is preferred, from the object, that at least two of the constitutive electrolyte membranes comprise block copolymer (I), and/or at least one of the constitutive electrolyte membranes has an ion exchange capacity of 0.7 meq/g or more and at least one of them has an ion exchange capacity of less than 0.7 meq/g.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte membrane comprising as a main ingredient a block copolymer which comprises, as its constituents, a polymer block (A) having as a main unit an aromatic vinyl compound unit and a polymer block (B) forming a flexible phase, and has ion-conducting groups on the polymer block (A), said aromatic vinyl compound unit being such that the hydrogen atom bonded to the ?-carbon atom is non-replaced or replaced with an alkyl group or an aryl group optionally having substituent(s), and at least one of hydrogen atoms directly bonded to the aromatic ring is replaced with an alkyl group; and a membrane electrode assembly and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell both of which uses it. The polymer block (A) can have a restraining phase, and/or can be cross-linked.

Abstract: Disclosed are: a polymer electrolyte which comprises, as the main component, a block/graft copolymer comprising, as constituent components, polymer blocks (A), (B) and (C) which cause phase-separation from one another, wherein the polymer block (A) comprises a vinyl compound unit as the main repeating unit and has an ion-conductive group, the polymer block (B) comprises a vinyl compound unit capable of forming a flexible phase as the main repeating unit and forms a flexible phase, and the polymer block (C) comprises a styrene derivative unit carrying an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having a polycyclic structure as the main repeating unit and forms a restrained phase; a membrane; a membrane-electrode assembly; and a solid polymer fuel cell.

Abstract: This invention relates to an ion-conducting binder used for a membrane electrode assembly for polymer electrolyte fuel cells, the assembly consisting of a polymer electrolyte membrane and two gas diffusion electrodes stuck to the polymer electrolyte membrane with the membrane put between the electrodes, which binder comprises a block copolymer which comprises a polymer block (A) having as a main unit an aromatic vinyl compound unit whose ?-carbon is quaternary carbon, and a flexible polymer block (B), and has ion-conducting groups on the polymer block (A), and a solution or suspension thereof, and a membrane electrode assembly and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. The ion-conducting binder, membrane electrode assembly and polymer electrolyte fuel cell of this invention are economical, mild to the environment and excellent in moldability and oxidation stability.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte membrane comprising as a main ingredient a block copolymer (P) which comprises, as its constituents, a vinyl alcoholic polymer block (A) and a polymer block (B) having ion-conducting groups, which block copolymer (P) is cross-linking treated, and a membrane-electrode assembly and a fuel cell using the polymer electrolyte membrane, respectively. Preferred as polymer block (B) is one having a styrene or vinylnaphthalene skeleton or a 2-(meth)acrylamido-2-methylpropane skeleton. The ion-conducting group includes a sulfonic acid group, a phosphonic acid group or the like.

Abstract: This invention relates to a polymer electrolyte membrane for polymer electrolyte fuel cells, comprising a block copolymer which comprises, as its constituents, a polymer block (A) having as a main unit an aromatic vinyl compound unit whose ?-carbon is quaternary carbon, and a flexible polymer block (B), and has ion-conducting groups on the polymer block (A). The electrolyte membrane of this invention is economical, mild to the environment and excellent in moldability and chemical stability and thus durability, and, therefore, can suitably be used in membrane electrode assemblies and polymer electrolyte fuel cells.