Abstract: A structure and method for absorbing and shielding sound from a source of sound are disclosed having at least four layers including a first panel layer 2, a sound absorbing material layer 3, a first air layer 4 and a second panel layer 6, which are located in a sequence from a source of sound. The sound absorbing material layer 3 has a ventilating property.

Abstract: A sound absorbing-insulating structure for vehicles comprises a sound absorbing layer which contains cellulose fibers containing cotton yarns, pulp fibers, etc. and synthetic resin as principal components. The sound absorbing-insulating structure for vehicles, in which a content rate of the synthetic resin is in the range of 0.01 to 80 wt %, and a surface density is in the range of 0.2 to 3 kg/m2, is provided. This sound absorbing-insulating structure has the good sound absorbing-insulating characteristic and is light in weight and inexpensive in cost.

Abstract: An apparatus for hot-dip coating a steel strip, comprising: (a) an annealing furnace for continuously annealing the steel strip, the annealing furnace having an entrance side and an exit side; (b) a coating pot having a molten metal coating bath for coating the annealed steel strip; (c) a snout through which the annealed steel strip is introduced into the molten metal coating bath, one end of the snout being connected to the annealing furnace and the other end being immersed into the molten metal coating bath; (d) a seal device for sealing between the annealing furnace and the snout, the seal device being disposed at the exit side of the annealing furnace; and (e) a discharge device for discharging a gas containing a metal vapor from the snout to outside of the snout, the metal vapor being evaporated from the molten metal coating bath in the snout.

Abstract: A method for hot-dip coating a steel strip comprises: (a) continuously annealing the steel strip in an annealing furnace; (b) introducing the annealed steel strip into a molten metal coating bath through a snout; (c) dipping the annealed steel strip into the molten metal coating bath; (d) controlling a pressure inside of the snout; and (e) discharging a gas containing a metal vapor from the snout to outside of the snout. An apparatus comprises an annealing furnace, a coating pot, a control device for controlling a pressure inside the snout and a gas discharging device.

Abstract: Disclosed is an epoxy resin type composition for stiffening a vehicle body. The epoxy resin type composition comprises an epoxy resin, a powdery methacrylate type polymer in an amount of 2 to 45 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of the epoxy resin, a thermally active hardening agent for epoxy resin in an amount of 1 to 20 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of the epoxy resin, a thermally decomposable foaming agent in an amount of 0.5 to 20 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of the epoxy resin, and a mixture of an inorganic salt with a shape of a predetermined aspect ratio and a granular inorganic salt in an amount of 50 to 200 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of the epoxy resin. A mixing ratio of the granular inorganic salt is 0 to 50% by weight relative to the total amount of the mixture. Also disclosed is a method for stiffening a vehicle body by use of such a composition.