Abstract: This invention provides an organic-inorganic hybrid material, which can exhibit high proton conductivity in a wide temperature range of a low temperature to a high temperature, a proton conductive material, which has a small particle diameter, that is, has a particle diameter capable of reaching pores of primary particles of carbon powder or the like, and has controlled particle diameters, a catalyst layer containing these materials for a fuel cell and an electrolyte film containing these materials for a fuel cell, and a fuel cell. The proton conductive hybrid material comprises proton conductive inorganic nanoparticles and a proton conductive polymer, wherein the Stokes particle diameter of the proton conductive hybrid material by dynamic light scattering is not more than 20 nm.

Abstract: There is provided a method for continuous production of a functional membrane whereby a functional membrane in which a functional polymer is filled into the micropores of a porous resin sheet can be obtained both continuously and efficiently.

Abstract: A toner for electrophotography satisfies Ft/Dt?3.0 [nN/?m], where Ft is an inter-toner non-electrostatic adhesion force after a compressive stress within 0.7×10?2 [N m2] to 1.5×10?2 [N/m2] is applied, and Dt is a diameter of a toner particle. The inter-toner non-electrostatic adhesion force is obtained by filling a two-dividable cell for an Agrobot AGR manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Corporation having a diameter of 15 mm, measuring a tensile rupture stress required for dividing the cell after a compressive stress is applied, and substituting the tensile rupture stress into Rumpf's equation.

Abstract: A method of refilling an ink bag that is used in an ink jet recorder, the ink bag is initially filled with ink through an opening in the bag, and is sealed after the ink bag is initially filled. The method comprises the steps of removing the ink bag from the ink jet recorder, positioning the ink bag, inserting an ink needle into a separate opening in the ink bag that is different than the first opening through which the ink bag is initially filled with ink, discharging ink from the ink bag through the second opening, and charging the ink bag through the second opening with a specified quantity of ink.

Abstract: A conventional direct methanol solid polymer fuel cell comprises a solid polymer electrolyte as an electrolyte. This type of cell involves some problems; methanol permeates the membrane; the electromotive force lowers because of direct oxidation; and the membrane melts at about 130° C. when the temperature is increased to enhance the catalyst activity.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus including a first-color developing unit configured to form a toner image on the photoconductive belt; and a second-color developing unit and successive developing units, at least the second-color and successive developing units each include an electrostatic developing unit including, an electrostatic toner conveying device including a plurality of electrodes, and a toner feeding device configured to feed the toner to the electrostatic toner conveying device, wherein voltages applied to the plurality of electrodes form a traveling-wave electric field for electrostatically transferring the toner, an electric field for causing the toner to electrostatically move toward the latent image formed on the photoconductive belt is formed, and toners not moved toward the latent image are directly conveyed to the toner feeding device by the electrostatic toner conveying device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hydrocarbon-based polymer for use in an electrolyte membrane of a fuel cell having high durability, an electrolyte membrane of a fuel cell using the polymer, a fuel cell using the electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrolyte membrane capable of inhibiting permeation of water, methanol or other electrolyte solutions, permeation of hydrogen and oxygen gas, and swelling caused by electrolyte solution, and having superior mechanical strength, a production process thereof and a membrane-electrode assembly and fuel cell using that electrolyte membrane. The electrolyte membrane has a porous base material having a plurality of pores, and a proton-conducting polymer composition retained in said pores, wherein the proton-conducting polymer composition contains an aromatic hydrocarbon resin having protonic acid groups, free water contained in the electrolyte membrane at 25° C. is present at 0.5 molecules or less per each of the protonic acid groups, bound water contained in the electrolyte membrane at 25° C. is present at 1 molecule or less for each of the protonic acid groups, proton conductivity of the electrolyte membrane in water at 25° C. is 0.

Abstract: Provide an electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell, the electrolyte membrane having a structure in which pores of a porous substrate are filled with an electrolyte polymer, and for which, even if the membrane thickness and porosity of the substrate are equal and the amount of electrolyte used for filling is also the same, the highest fuel cell performance is given. An electrolyte membrane formed by filling pores of a porous substrate with an electrolyte polymer, and having a ratio of the maximum value to the minimum value (maximum value/minimum value) of the ionic conductivity when measured in a plane direction in the range of 1 to 1.5.

Abstract: A toner for electrophotography satisfies Ft/Dt?3.0 [nN/?m], where Ft is an inter-toner non-electrostatic adhesion force after a compressive stress within 0.7×10?2 [N/m2] to 1.5×x10?2 [N/m2] is applied, and Dt is a toner particle diameter. The inter-toner non-electrostatic adhesion force is obtained by filling a two-dividable cell for an Agrobot manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Corporation having a diameter of 15 mm, measuring a tension rupture stress required for dividing the cell after a compressive stress is applied, and substituting the tension rupture stress into Rumpf's equation.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer medium on which a toner image is to be transferred, having a property such that a surface potential thereon decays with time t according to an equation V=A exp(?t/?) wherein V represents the surface potential of the intermediate transfer medium in absolute value; A is a constant; and ? is a dielectric relaxation time constant, wherein the dielectric relaxation time constant is less than 1.5 seconds. An image forming apparatus including an image bearing member configured to bear an electrostatic latent image thereon; a developing device configured to develop the latent image with a developer including a toner to form a toner image on the image bearing member; the intermediate transfer medium mentioned above configured to receive the toner image from the image bearing member; and a transfer device configured to transfer the toner image to a receiving material.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrolyte membrane in which permeation of an electrolyte solution such as water and methanol, and swelling by electrolyte solutions are suppressed, and which is excellent in mechanical strength; and providing a preparing method thereof. The present invention relates to an electrolyte membrane comprising a porous substrate with a plurality of pores and a proton conductive polymer composition held in the pores, wherein the proton conductive polymer composition contains an aromatic hydrocarbon resin having proton acid groups, preferably an aromatic hydrocarbon resin selected from a group consisting of polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyarylate, polyamide imide, polyetherimide, polyimide, polyquinoline, and polyquinoxaline.

Abstract: At least one of a hollow particle 14, a porous particle 24, and a solid particle 34 having the pores 18, 28, 38 on the surface thereof is subjected to plasma irradiation under a reduced pressure while changing plasma irradiation intensity and/or the degree of vacuum. After the plasma irradiation, at least one type of monomer is graft polymerized onto the surface of the plasma irradiated particle by contact between the at least one type of monomer and the particle so as to substantially fill the pores 18, 28, and 38 of the particle with grafted polymers 12 of the monomers.

Abstract: An electrode for fuel cell, such as electrode for solid polymer fuel cell, having three-phase interfaces arranged therein in an efficient fashion so as to exhibit enhanced fuel cell characteristics. In particular, an electrode for fuel cell comprising a porous electro-conductive material carrying a catalyst and, arranged on the surface, including pores, thereof or in its vicinity, a proton-conductive substance characterized in that the proton-conductive substance is one obtained by carrying out coupling or polymerization of a proton-conductive substance precursor, a proton-conductive monomer or an equivalent thereof on the surface or in the vicinity.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus of the present invention charges the surface of a photoconductive belt with a charger, exposes the charged surface with an exposing unit to form a latent image, develops the latent image with a developing unit to thereby form a corresponding toner image, repeats such a process a plurality of times to form toner images of different colors on the belt one above the other, and transfers the resulting composite color image to a recording medium with an image transferring unit. At least a second-color and successive developing units each are implemented as an electrostatic developing unit including an electrostatic toner conveying device having a number of electrodes arranged at preselected small intervals in a direction of toner conveyance and each extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the above direction.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer medium on which a toner image is to be transferred, having a property such that a surface potential thereon decays with time t according to an equation V=A exp(?t/?) wherein V represents the surface potential of the intermediate transfer medium in absolute value; A is a constant; and ? is a dielectric relaxation time constant, wherein the dielectric relaxation time constant is less than 1.5 seconds. An image forming apparatus including an image bearing member configured to bear an electrostatic latent image thereon; a developing device configured to develop the latent image with a developer including a toner to form a toner image on the image bearing member; the intermediate transfer medium mentioned above configured to receive the toner image from the image bearing member; and a transfer device configured to transfer the toner image to a receiving material.

Abstract: An electrolyte membrane having a porous base material having pores filled with a first polymer capable of conducting a proton, wherein the porous base material comprises i) at least one second polymer selected from the group consisting of polyolefins and ii) a third polymer having double bond in the polymer, and contains a crosslinked second polymer wherein molecules of the second polymer are crosslinked with one another; and a fuel cell, particularly a solid polymer fuel cell, more specifically a direct methanol polymer fuel cell, using the electrolyte membrane. The electrolyte membrane is excellent in the inhibition of permeation of methanol, exhibits no or reduced change in its area, and is excellent in proton conductivity.

Abstract: An electrolyte membrane having a porous base material having pores filled with a first polymer capable of conducting a proton, wherein the porous base material comprises at least one second polymer selected from the group consisting of polyimides and polyamides; and a fuel cell, particularly a solid polymer fuel cell, more specifically a direct methanol polymer fuel cell, using the electrolyte membrane. The electrolyte membrane is excellent in the inhibition of permeation of methanol, exhibits no or reduced change in its area, and is excellent in proton conductivity.

Abstract: At least one of a hollow particle 14, a porous particle 24, and a solid particle 34 having the pores 18, 28, 38 on the surface thereof is subjected to plasma irradiation under a reduced pressure while changing plasma irradiation intensity and/or the degree of vacuum. After the plasma irradiation, at least one type of monomer is graft polymerized onto the surface of the plasma irradiated particle by contact between the at least one type of monomer and the particle so as to substantially fill the pores 18, 28, and 38 of the particle with grafted polymers 12 of the monomers.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an ink cartridge for use in an ink jet recorder, comprising the step of providing an ink bag having a top end, and a bottom end below the top end, the top end being open and the bottom end having an ink feed port therein; moving the ink bag from a first position near a top edge thereof and positioning the ink bag in a vacuum chamber; depressurizing the vacuum chamber; charging a selected quantity of ink into the ink bag; sealing the open end of the ink bag at a second position below the first position; pressing the sealed portion of the ink bag to a selected thickness with press plates; sealing the bag in the pressed position at a third position below the second position; and cutting the ink bag between the second and third positions.