Abstract: Provided a process for producing higher content of trans 1,4-bis(aminomethyl)cyclohexane which is used as the raw material for producing polyamides or polyurethanes having physically and chemically excellent properties from 1,4-bis(aminomethyl)cyclohexane which is generally produced by hydrogenation of p-xylylenediamine.That is, a mixture of cis and trans 1,4-bis(aminomethyl)cyclohexane is isomerized by heating at 120 to 250.degree. C. in the presence of a platinum group catalyst to change to trans isomer. 1,4-bis(aminomethyl)cyclohexane containing more than 80% trans isomer is produced by combining this isomerization technique and crystallization technique.

Abstract: A wafer surface inspection method and device including a low angle light receiving system having an elevation angle less than 30.degree. with reference to the wafer surface, and a high angle light receiving system having an elevation angle equal to or larger than 30.degree., scans the wafer with a laser beam, receives scattered light to perform extraneous substance detection in response to the scanning, and detects wafer defects only by the high angle light receiving system, and sticking extraneous substances by either the low angle receiving system or by both the low angle light receiving system and the high angle light receiving system.

Abstract: A detector is provided to optically monitor the outer periphery of a wafer rotated by rotation of a rotary stage, so as to detect how much the center of the wafer placed on the rotary inspection stage is offset from the rotational center of the rotary stage as well as an angular position, on the stage, of a V-shaped notch formed in the wafer. From the detected eccentricity of the wafer, it is determined whether a precise positioning operation, using at least three positioning pins, to locate the center of the wafer at the rotational center of the rotary stage should be performed or not. When the detected eccentricity is so great as to necessitate the precise positioning operation, one of the positioning pins is caused to fit into the V-shaped notch of the wafer on the basis of the detected angular position of the notch and then the precise positioning of the wafer is performed using the other two positioning pins.

Abstract: An alkaline storage battery made using a hydrogen-storing alloy for the negative electrode has suffered from the problems that the negative electrode is oxidized with oxygen gas generated from the positive electrode during overdischarge to cause increase of internal resistance and deterioration of charging and discharging cycle characteristics. Disclosed is a solution to the above problems which incorporates into the hydrogen-storing alloy negative electrode one of yttrium and yttrium compounds or a mixture thereof in such a state that it covers the surface of the hydrogen-storing alloy powder.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage alloy electrode comprising, an electrically conductive support made of a punched or perforated metal sheet, a mixture supported on said conductive support and a water-repellent agent for giving a water-repellent property on the surface of the electrode, said mixture including; a hydrogen storage alloy powder, a styrene-butadiene copolymer having a styrene to butadiene weight ratio in a range of 100:30 to 100:100 as a binder, a polymeric material for giving a hydrophilic property inside the electrode, and carbon black for giving a hydrophobic property inside the electrode.

Abstract: Provided is a process for producing isocyanates from carbamic acid esters which comprises thermally decomposing carbamic acid esters in the presence of a catalyst containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of organic sulfonic acids and alkaline metal salts of organic sulfonic acids. Thereby, a high thermal decomposition rate can be provided and isocyanate can be obtained in a high yield.

Abstract: A method for the production of an alkylene carbonate at high yields and high selectivity by a reaction between an alkylene glycol and urea, the method being capable to preventing the deposition of a white crystal in the reflux condenser used in a conventional method for the production of alkylene carbonate and the subsequent decrease in the yield, wherein:a gas washing member and a cooling member are disposed above a reaction portion where alkylene glycol and urea are allowed to react,ammonia-containing steam exhausted from the reaction portion is downwardly introduced into the cooling member through the gas washing member,condensate and ammonia gas exhausted from a bottom of the cooling member are gas-liquid separated,the condensate is introduced into the gas washing member, andthe ammonia gas is removed from the reaction system.

Abstract: An urethane compound is produced in high yield under mild conditions by reacting a formamide compound with dimethyl carbonate in the presence of basic anion exchange resin as a catalyst or by reacting an amine compound with dimethyl carbonate in the presence of basic anion exchange resin as a catalyst and methyl formate. Separation and recovery of the catalyst and purification of the urethane compound can be carried out very readily, and since control of water content is not particularly required in this invention, an amine compound and dimethyl carbonate of poor quality can be used.

Abstract: A dielectric ceramic composition of matter characterized in that the composition of matter contains 0.003 to 0.3% by weight manganese in addition to the main composition of matter represented by the composition formula xBaO.multidot.yNd.sub.2 O.sub.3 .multidot.zTiO.sub.2 .multidot.wBi.sub.2 O.sub.3 wherein 0.110.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.170, 0.120.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.185, 0.630.ltoreq.z.ltoreq. 0.710, 0.020.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.090, and x+y+z+w=1. This composition of matter is high in dielectric constant, low in the temperature dependency of resonance frequency in a resonator, and high in Q-value.

Abstract: Xylylene diisocyanate is produced in higher space-time yield with higher selectivity by thermal decomposition of xylylene dicarbamate as an urethane compound, i.e. by subjecting the urethane compound to reactive distillation with a thermal decomposition catalyst of at least one of metals selected from antimony and tin or their compounds in the presence of an inert solvent having a higher boiling point than that of the resulting xylylene diisocyanate under reduced pressure of 1 to 500 mmHg and at 150.degree. to 350.degree. C. and then subjecting the resulting reaction products as distillates to partial condensation outside the reactive distillation system, thereby separately recovering the resulting alcohol and xylylene diisocyanate.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for producing an isocyanate compound from a formamide compound or an amine compound which comprises (a) the first reaction step of reacting a formamide compound with dimethyl carbonate in the presence of an alkali catalyst, or reacting methyl formate and an amine compound with dimethyl carbonate in the presence of an alkali catalyst, to produce a corresponding urethane compound, and (b) the second reaction step of thermally decomposing the urethane compound at a temperature of 150.degree.-350.degree. C. and separately recovering the methanol and the corresponding isocyanate compound thus formed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a urethane and a carbonic acid ester which comprises reacting a primary amine, an organic compound containing a hydroxyl group(s), carbon monoxide and molecular oxygen with one another by using a catalyst comprising mainly copper.

Abstract: A dielectric ceramic composition of matter consisting essentially of a range of composition wherein the composition formula representsxBaO.yNd.sub.2 O.sub.3.zTiO.sub.2.wBi.sub.2 O.sub.3wherein 0.110.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.170, 0.120.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.180, 0.630.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.0.685, 0.020.ltoreq.w.ltoreq.0.090, and x+y+z+w=1. The composition of matter provides the advantage that it is high in dielectric constant, small in dielectric loss in high frequency and small in change with respect to temperature of resonance frequency.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dielectric ceramic material having a chemical composition represented by the formula Sr(Ni.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.2/3)O.sub.3 or (1-x)Sr(Ni.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.2/3)O.sub.3.xBaTiO.sub.3 in which x is a positive number of up to 0.3 and also having a perovskite structure. This dielectric material has a small dielectric loss and a large dielectric constant, and the temperature coefficient of the resonance frequency can be controlled to a small value within a certain range. The dielectric ceramic material is valuably used for microwave dielectric ceramics.

Abstract: In a multilayer ceramic capacitor comprising internal electrodes of an Ag-Pd alloy, by incorporating 0.05 to 0.7%, by weight of Ag into a ceramic dielectric layer, the equivalent series resistance can be reduced and the capacitance can be increased. Incorporation of Ag in the dielectric layer can be accomplished by adding Ag.sub.2 O into a green sheet of the dielectric material in advance or by firing a green sheet of the dielectric material in a powder containing Ag.sub.2 O.

Abstract: A process for producing ethanol which comprises reacting methanol, carbon monoxide and water in the presence of a catalyst comprising cobalt or a cobalt compound and a tertiary phosphine as an effective component is disclosed. A gaseous mixture obtained by burning heavy oil or coal having a relatively high content of carbon can be used as a raw material for producing ethanol.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dielectric ceramic material comprising lanthanum magnesiumtitanate having a perovskite structure. The lanthanum magnesiumtitanate is preferably used in the form of a composition of the lanthanum magnesiumtitanate and calcium titanate as the dielectric ceramic material. The dielectric ceramic material has a small dielectric loss and a large dielectric constant, and the temperature coefficient of the resonance frequency can be controlled to a small value within a certain range. This dielectric material is valuable as a microwave resonator.

Abstract: A process for producing ethanol which comprises reacting methanol, carbon noxide and hydrogen in the presence of (a) a catalyst containing a cobalt component, an iron component, a ruthenium component and an iodine component, (b) at least one organic solvent and (c) water, said catalyst comprising the cobalt component in amount of 0.1-500 milligram atom (mg-atom) in terms of cobalt per 1 mol of methanol, an iron component in amount of 0.01-4 atoms per 1 atom of cobalt in terms of metal, a ruthenium component in amount of 0.01-4 atoms per 1 atom of cobalt in terms of metal and an iodine component in amount of 0.05-20 atoms per 1 atom of cobalt is disclosed. According to the present invention, selectivity to ethanol is high and ethanol can be obtained under mild conditions.

Abstract: A dielectric ceramic composition prepared by adding 0.1 to 1.3% of B.sub.2 O.sub.3, 1.0 to 3.0% of SiO.sub.2 and 0.5 to 3.0% of ZnO to a composition comprising 18.0 to 27.0% of BaTiO.sub.2, 31.6 to 36.3% of Nd.sub.2 O.sub.3, 27.6 to 35.5% of TiO.sub.2, 2.5 to 8.1% of Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3 and 5.6 to 9.0% of Pb.sub.3 O.sub.4, all percentages being by weight. This dielectric composition has a high dielectric constant and a temperature coefficient controlled within a narrow range and can be fired at relatively low temperatures. Because of these properties, it is used as a multilayer ceramic capacitor in combination with an electrode composed of an Ag-Pd alloy containing a major amount of Ag.

Abstract: A process for producing ethanol which comprises reacting methanol, carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of (a) a catalyst comprising cobalt or a cobalt compound and a tertiary phosphine as an effective component and (b) promoter comprising an aromatic carboxylic acid, an ester thereof, or a cobalt salt of aromatic carboxylic acid is disclosed. According to the present invention, formation of by-products becomes less and selectivity to realizable ethanol becomes higher.