Abstract: A leveling agent for water-based floor polishes which contains a nonionic surfactant, characterized in that the nonionic surfactant is at least one member selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by the general formula (1): R1—C(R2)H—CH2O—(C2H4O)m(C3H6O)n—H [wherein R1 represents C4-10 alkyl; R2 represents C6-12 alkyl; m is an integer of 1 to 10; n is an integer of 0 to 6; and the ethylene oxide unit(s) and the propylene oxide unit(s) are bonded in any desired sequence, i.e., in either block or random arrangement] and compounds represented by the general formula (II): R3O—(C2H4O)p(C3H6O)q—H [wherein R3 represents at least one residue of one or more aliphatic alcohols selected among 3,5,5-trimethylhexanol, isooctyl alcohol, isodecyl alcohol, isoundecyl alcohol, and isotridecyl alcohol; p is an integer of 0 to 8 and q is an integer of 0 to 8, provided that p+q is an integer of 2 to 8; and the ethylene oxide unit(s) and the propylene oxide unit(s) are bonded in any desired sequence, i.e.

Abstract: A polishing composition for a memory hard disc, which comprises the following components (a) to (d):(a) water,(b) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a polystyrenesulfonic acid, and its salts,(c) a compound selected from the group consisting of an inorganic acid and an organic acid, and their salts, other than component (b), and(d) at least one abrasive selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxide, silicon dioxide, cerium oxide, zirconium oxide, titanium oxide, silicon nitride and manganese dioxide.

Abstract: A process for quench hardening metal is provided. The process comprises heating the metal to a quench hardening temperature and thereafter immersing the metal in a quenching medium which is an aqueous solution containing 0.4 to 10% by weight of polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid, a copolymer of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid, or a salt thereof. The process provides a perfect and uniformly hardened quenched structure and allows the production of a quenched structure having a desired degree of hardness.

Abstract: A novel quenching medium for steel is provided. The quenching medium is a 0.5-10 wt. % aqueous solution of polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid, a copolymer of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid, or a salt thereof. Intrinsic viscosity [.eta.] of the polymer is from 0.010 to 0.050 l/g. The quenching medium is superior in various quenching characteristics to conventional quenching media.