Abstract: An illuminating device is made from a transparent hollow envelope that encloses a filler gas. The envelope has inner and outer surfaces. The illuminating device has a coating of a fluorescent material deposited on the inner surface of the transparent envelope where the fluorescent material emits light having a visible component and an ultraviolet component; and a titanium dioxide film having first and second opposing surfaces where the first surface of the titanium dioxide film is formed on the outer surface of the transparent envelope. A light transmittance of the titanium dioxide film is at least 50% for light having a wavelength of 550 nm, and the light transmitted from the fluorescent material through the transparent envelope and the first surface of the titanium dioxide film to the second surface thereof causes photocatalytic activity to be generated on the second surface of the titanium dioxide film.

Abstract: An illuminating device is made from a transparent hollow envelope that encloses a filler gas. The envelope has inner and outer surfaces. The illuminating device has a coating of a fluorescent material deposited on the inner surface of the transparent envelope where the fluorescent material emits light having a visible component and an ultraviolet component; and a titanium dioxide film having first and second opposing surfaces where the first surface of the titanium dioxide film is formed on the outer surface of the transparent envelope. A light transmittance of the titanium dioxide film is at least 50% for light having a wavelength of 550 nm, and the light transmitted from the fluorescent material through the transparent envelope and the first surface of the titanium dioxide film to the second surface thereof causes photocatalytic activity to be generated on the second surface of the titanium dioxide film.

Abstract: An illuminating device is made from a transparent hollow envelope that encloses a filler gas. The envelope has inner and outer surfaces. The illuminating device has a coating of a fluorescent material deposited on the inner surface of the transparent envelope where the fluorescent material emits light having a visible component and an ultraviolet component; and a titanium dioxide film having first and second opposing surfaces where the first surface of the titanium dioxide film is formed on the outer surface of the transparent envelope. A light transmittance of the titanium dioxide film is at least 50% for light having a wavelength of 550 nm, and the light transmitted from the fluorescent material through the transparent envelope and the first surface of the titanium dioxide film to the second surface thereof causes photocatalytic activity to be generated on the second surface of the titanium dioxide film.

Abstract: A titanium dioxide film (2) having at least photocatalytic activity, whose light linear transmittance corresponding to light having a wavelength of 550 nm is not less than 50% and whose thickness is 0.1 to 5 ?m or so, is formed on a transparent substrate (1) constituted by a glass plate or the like. Preferably, a precoat film (3), which has optical transmissivity and is constituted by a SiO2 film having a thickness of 0.02 to 0.2 ?m or so, is provided between the transparent substrate (1) and the titanium dioxide film (2). Thereby, excellent photocatalytic action and optical transmissivity can be obtained. Moreover, members composing various structures such as a glass window, which are especially required to have optical transparency, can be further provided with photocatalytic activities.

Abstract: A titanium dioxide film (2) having at least photocatalytic activity, whose light linear transmittance corresponding to light having a wavelength of 550 nm is not less than 50% and whose thickness is 0.1 to 5 &mgr;m or so, is formed on a transparent substrate (1) constituted by a glass plate or the like. Preferably, a precoat film (3), which has optical transmissivity and is constituted by a SiO2 film having a thickness of 0.02 to 0.2 &mgr;m or so, is provided between the transparent substrate (1) and the titanium dioxide film (2). Thereby, excellent photocatalytic action and optical transmissivity can be obtained. Moreover, members composing various structures such as a glass window, which are especially required to have optical transparency, can be further provided with photocatalytic activities.

Abstract: A titanium dioxide film (2) having at least photocatalytic activity, whose light linear transmittance corresponding to light having a wavelength of 550 nm is not less than 50% and whose thickness is 0.1 to 5 &mgr;m or so, is formed on a transparent substrate (1) constituted by a glass plate or the like. Preferably, a precoat film (3), which has optical transmissivity and is constituted by a SiO2 film having a thickness of 0.02 to 0.2 &mgr;m or so, is provided between the transparent substrate (1) and the titanium dioxide film (2). Thereby, excellent photocatalytic action and optical transmissivity can be obtained. Moreover, members composing various structures such as a glass window, which are especially required to have optical transparency, can be further provided with photocatalytic activities.

Abstract: The present invention relates to photocatalyst-carrying structures which can be used particularly in an environment of high temperature and humidity or outdoor environment requiring alkali resistance and also to composites of photocatalyst coating materials to produce the said structures. The composites of photocatalyst coating materials are characterized in containing a photocatalyst and a zirconium compound and/or tin compound in order to endow alkali resistance. The photocatalyst-carrying structure has an adhesive layer between a photocatalyst layer and a carrier. The photocatalyst layer contains a photocatalyst, and a zirconium compound and/or tin compound to endow alkali resistance.

Abstract: A titanium dioxide film having at least photocatalytic activity, whose light linear transmittance corresponding to light having a wavelength of 550 nm is not less than 50 % and whose thickness is 0.1 to 5 &mgr;m or so, is formed on a transparent substrate constituted by a glass plate or the like. Preferably, a precoat film, which has optical transmissivity and is constituted by a SiO2 film having a thickness of 0.02 to 0.2 &mgr;m or so, is provided between the transparent substrate and the titanium dioxide film. Thereby, excellent photocatalytic action and optical transmissivity can be obtained. Moreover, members composing various structures such as a glass window, which are especially required to have optical transparency, can be further provided with photocatalytic activities.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photocatalyst-carrying structure which has a structure, wherein an adhesive layer is provided in between a photocatalyst layer and a substrate, the adhesive layer is composed of silicon-modified resin, polysiloxane-containing resin or colloidal silica-containing resin, and for forming the photocatalyst layer a composition comprising a metal oxide gel or a metal hydroxide gel and a photocatalyst is used. Further, the present invention also provides a photocatalyst coating agent for producing a photocatalyst-carrying structure which contains silicon compound, at least one metal oxide sol or metal hydroxide sol, and at least one photocatalyst powder or sol.

Abstract: The improved dielectric ceramic composition has sufficiently high dielectric constant, high insulation resistance and small dielectric loss to be suitable for use as a material for ceramic capacitors. The composition comprises as a main component a three-component ceramic composition in solid solution having the formula Pb(Mg.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.2/3)O.sub.3 -Pb(Ni.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.2/3)O.sub.3 -PbTiO.sub.3 which, when expressed by xPb(Mg.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.2/3)O.sub.3 -yPb(Ni.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.2/3)O.sub.3 -zPbTiO.sub.3, is defined by the area surrounded by the following points of (x, y, z), i.e., (0.70, 0.20, 0.10), (0.70, 0.15, 0.15), (0.83, 0.02, 0.15), (0.96, 0.02, 0.02) and (0.78, 0.20, 0.02), and this ceramic composition further contains a Mn oxide or a Mn-containing complex oxide as an additive.

Abstract: In a continuously cast piece of austenitic stainless steel having a large amount of Mo, segregation of alloy elements such as Mo and Cr is caused at the center part in the thickness direction of the slab, and the .sigma.-phase is precipitated during the step of cooling the cast piece. When a heavy plate or hot coil is prepared from this cast piece as the starting material, cracking occurs in the hot-working step and the corrosion resistance of the final product is degraded. According to the present invention, at the cast piece-forming step, the super-heating degree of the molten steel is controlled to at least 25.degree. C., whereby the equiaxed zone ratio is controlled to below 25%. When the heating times at the soaking and hot rolling treatments and the conditions for annealing the obtained steel sheet are controlled, the pitting resistance of the steel plate is greatly improved and cracking is prevented at the hot-working step.

Abstract: Composite oxyalkoxides and their derivatives are novel organometallic compounds which give alkaline earth metal titanates such as barium titanate or strontium titanate by hydrolysis or thermal decomposition. The oxyalkoxides are synthesized by the reaction between an alkoxytitanium and an alkaline earth metal hydroxide, and their derivatives are synthesized by the reaction between the composite oxyalkoxide and a chelating agent.