Abstract: The present invention provides amphiphilic polymer particles which are formed from a naturally derived starting material and exhibit hydrophobicity, while maintaining an adequate water absorption. An amphiphilic alginic acid particle group which is obtained by subjecting a polyvalent metal salt of alginic acid to a hydrophobization treatment with use of a hydrophobizing agent, wherein: some metal ions in the polyvalent metal salt of alginic acid are hydrophobized through a chemical bond with the hydrophobizing agent; the contact angle at 30 seconds after dropping a water droplet on the particle group is from 300 to 150°; and the water absorption per 100 g of the particles is not less than the oil absorption per 100 g of the particles.

Abstract: Provided is a biodegradation accelerator for accelerating the biodegradation of resins, etc. in the ocean. This marine-biodegradation accelerator comprises a compound including anions of one or more kinds including an anion having six or more carbon atoms and three or more oxygen atoms and a metal cation having a valence of two or higher, the anions and the cation being bonded by ionic bonding. A group of particles of the compound forms a contact angle of 30° or larger 30 seconds after a waterdrop is dropped thereonto.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hydrophobic alginic acid particle group which is obtained by subjecting a polyvalent metal alginate to a hydrophobization treatment, and which is configured such that the water absorption per 100 g of the particles is lower than the oil absorption per 100 g of the particles.

Abstract: This production method is for disc-shaped polymer particles having an average aspect ratio of 1-1.3. The method comprises conducting, in a solvent, solution polymerization of monomers including a hydrophobic unsaturated monomer which is liquid at 25° C., in the presence of a polymerization initiator, a surfactant, and/or a polymer stabilizer, wherein a solvent mixture containing water, a hydrophilic organic solvent, and a hydrophobic organic solvent is used as the solvent, and, as the polymerization initiator, one or more polymerization initiators soluble in at least one of water, the hydrophilic organic solvent, and the hydrophobic organic solvent are used as a combination that is soluble in all of water, the hydrophilic organic solvent, and the hydrophobic organic solvent, such that the hydrophobic unsaturated monomer, water, the hydrophilic organic solvent, and the hydrophobic organic solvent are mixed at a predetermined ratio.

Abstract: This production method is for disc-shaped polymer particles having an average aspect ratio of 1-1.3. The method comprises conducting, in a solvent, solution polymerization of monomers including a hydrophobic unsaturated monomer which is liquid at 25° C., in the presence of a polymerization initiator, a surfactant, and/or a polymer stabilizer, wherein a solvent mixture containing water, a hydrophilic organic solvent, and a hydrophobic organic solvent is used as the solvent, and, as the polymerization initiator, one or more polymerization initiators soluble in at least one of water, the hydrophilic organic solvent, and the hydrophobic organic solvent are used as a combination that is soluble in all of water, the hydrophilic organic solvent, and the hydrophobic organic solvent, such that the hydrophobic unsaturated monomer, water, the hydrophilic organic solvent, and the hydrophobic organic solvent are mixed at a predetermined ratio.

Abstract: A method for producing elliptical, needle-shaped, or rod-shaped polymer particles satisfying (1)-(3) below includes a step in which a synthesis solution including water, a mixed solvent of a hydrophilic organic solvent and a hydrophobic organic solvent, a polymeric stabilizer, a polymerization initiator, and an unsaturated monomer is heated, and, at least after the heating has started, the pH of the synthesis solution is adjusted to 5-9 inclusive to perform solution polymerization: (1) the average (LAV) length (L) in a two-dimensional projection diagram obtained by irradiating the particles with light from a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is 0.1-80 ?m; (2) the average (DAV) breadth (D) in the two-dimensional projection diagram obtained by irradiating the particles with light from the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is 0.05-40 ?m; and (3) the average (PAV) aspect ratio (L/D) calculated from the length (L) and the breadth (D) is 1.5-30.

Abstract: These flat elliptical polymer particles have a front view, a planar view, and a side view in a projection diagram based on third-angle projection which are all elliptical. The flat elliptical polymer particles satisfy (1)-(4): (1) the average length (LAV) of flat portions satisfies 0.13?(LAV)?500 ?m; (2) the average breadth (DAV) of the flat portions satisfies 0.1?(DAV)?250 ?m; (3) the average (P1AV) aspect ratio (L/D) calculated from the length (L) and the breadth (D) satisfies 1.3<P1AV?50; and (4) the average (P2AV) aspect ratio (D/T) calculated from the breadth (D) and the thickness (T) of the side surface satisfies 1.2<P2AV?100.

Abstract: Provided is a skin cosmetic that includes: (A) 0.1-40 mass % of polymer particles that include prolate-spheroidal polymer particles A that haw no flat surfaces that (1), in a two-dimensional projection obtained by shining light from a direction that is orthogonal to a longitudinal-axis direction, have an average (L1AV) major axis (L1) of 3-60 ?m, that (2), in the two-dimensional projection obtained by shining light from the direction that is orthogonal to the longitudinal-axis direction, have an average (D1AV) minor axis (D1) of 0.5-30 ?m, and that (3) have an average (P1AV) aspect ratio (L1/D1), as calculated from the major axes (L1) and the minor axes (D1), of 1.5-30; and 60-99.9 mass % of other components that include (B) inorganic particles and (C) an oily component.

Abstract: Provided are skin cosmetics including 0.1-50% by mass of polymer particles including flat, oval, spherical polymer particles A in which: all of the front view, the plan view, and the side view of a projection drawing based on the third angle method are ovals; (1) the average (LAV) of the long diameter (L) of the flat portion is 0.13?LAV?500 ?m; (2) the average (DAV) of the short diameter (D) of the flat portion is 0.1?DAV?250 ?m; and (3) the average (P1AV) of the aspect ratio (L/D) calculated from the long diameter (L) and the short diameter (D) is 1.3<P1AV?50.

Abstract: These flat elliptical polymer particles have a front view, a planar view, and a side view in a projection diagram based on third-angle projection which are all elliptical. The flat elliptical polymer particles satisfy (1)-(4): (1) the average length (LAV) of flat portions satisfies 0.13?(LAV)?500 ?m; (2) the average breadth (DAV) of the flat portions satisfies 0.1?(DAV)?250 ?m; (3) the average (P1AV) aspect ratio (L/D) calculated from the length (L) and the breadth (D) satisfies 1.3<P1AV?50; and (4) the average (P2AV) aspect ratio (D/T) calculated from the breadth (D) and the thickness (T) of the side surface satisfies 1.2<P2AV?100.

Abstract: Provided are elliptical, needle-shaped, or rod-shaped crosslinked polymer particles in which 5-100 mol % of all repeating units are repeating units derived from an unsaturated monomer having a functional group selected from an epoxy group, a carboxyl group, an amide group, a hydroxy group an amino group, and a thiol group, wherein (1) the average (LAV) length (L) in a two-dimensional projection diagram obtained by irradiating the particles with light from a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is 0.1-80 ?m, (2) the average (DAV) breadth (D) in the two-dimensional projection diagram obtained by irradiating, the particles with light from the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is 0.05-40 ?m, and (3) the average (PAV) aspect ratio (L/D) calculated from the length (L) and the breadth (D) is 1.5-30.

Abstract: A method for producing elliptical, needle-shaped, or rod-shaped polymer particles satisfying (1)-(3) below includes a step in which a synthesis solution including water, a mixed solvent of a hydrophilic organic solvent and a hydrophobic organic solvent, a polymeric stabilizer, a polymerization initiator, and an unsaturated monomer is heated, and, at least after the heating has started, the pH of the synthesis solution is adjusted to 5-9 inclusive to perform solution polymerization: (1) the average (LAV) length (L) in a two-dimensional projection diagram obtained by irradiating the particles with light from a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is 0.1-80 ?m; (2) the average (DAV) breadth (D) in the two-dimensional projection diagram obtained by irradiating the particles with light from the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is 0.05-40 ?m; and (3) the average (PAV) aspect ratio (L/D) calculated from the length (L) and the breadth (D) is 1.5-30.

Abstract: Provided is an ultraviolet scattering agent characterized by comprising at least one type of elliptical or needle-like polymer particle A, wherein (1) the average (LAV) of the long axis (L) in a two-dimensional projection diagram obtained by radiating light from a direction perpendicular to the long-axis direction is 0.1 to 80 ?m, (2) the average (DAV) of the short axis (D) in a two-dimensional projection diagram obtained by radiating light from a direction perpendicular to the long-axis direction is 0.05 to 40 ?m, and (3) the average (PAV) of the aspect ratio (L/D) calculated from the long axis (L) and the short axis (D) is 2 to 30.

Abstract: Conductive particles each includes a polymer base particle and a conductive layer coating the polymer base particle. Let the compressive elastic deformation characteristic KX of one conductive particle when the displacement of particle diameter of the conductive particles is X % be defined by the following formula: KX=(3/?2)·(SX?3/2)·(R?1/2)·FX. FX is the load (N) necessary for X % displacement of the conductive particles. SX is the compressive deformation amount (mm) upon X % displacement of the conductive particles. R is the particle radius (mm) of the conductive particles. The compressive elastic deformation characteristic K50 when the displacement of particle diameter of the conductive particles is 50% is 100 to 50000 N/mm2 at 20° C., and the recovery factor of particle diameter of the conductive particles when the displacement of particle diameter of the conductive particles is 50% is not less than 30% at 20° C.

Abstract: A filler for substrates which comprises an inorganic substance and a carbodiimide-group-containing organic layer chemically bonded to the surface of the inorganic substance. Examples of the carbodiimide-group-containing organic layer include a layer comprising a carbodiimide-group-containing compound represented by either of the following formulae. Due to the constitution, the filler for substrates can be highly dispersed in a resin for substrates even when added in a high proportion and can give a substrate inhibited from deteriorating in electrical properties, mechanical properties, etc. (X1)m—Z-[A-(R1—N?C?N)n—R1—NCO]1 ??(1) (X1)m—Z-[A-(R1—N?C?N)n—R1-A-Z—(X2)3]1 ??(2) [R1 represents a residue of an isocyanate compound; X? and X2 each independently represents hydrogen, halogeno, etc.

Abstract: A flame retardant which comprises an inorganic hydroxide and a carbodiimide-group-containing organic layer chemically bonded to the surface of the inorganic hydroxide. Examples of the carbodiimide-group-containing organic layer include a layer comprising a carbodiimide-group-containing compound represented by either of the following formulae. Due to the constitution, the flame retardant can be highly dispersed in a resin even when added in a high proportion and can give a molding inhibited from deteriorating in electrical properties, mechanical properties, etc. (X1)m-Z-[A-(R1—N?C?N)n—R1—NCO]1??(1) (X1)m-Z-[A-(R1—N?C?N)n—R1-A-Z-(X2)3])3??(2) [R1 represents a residue of an isocyanate compound; X1 and X2 each independently represents hydrogen, halogeno, etc.

Abstract: Flaky particles which are produced through easy conversion from mother particles by using an organic compound other than monomers having double bonds as the hardening and crosslinking agent and to which at least one mechanical or functional characteristic selected from among reactivity, close adhesion, and tackiness is imparted by the presence of part of the unreacted reactive groups of the organic compound inside and on the particles; and a process for the production of the flaky particles. More specifically, flaky particles composed of mother particles (A) having functional groups and an organic compound (B) which has groups reactive with the functional groups of the particles (A) and is soluble in a solvent, characterized in that at least part of the functional groups of the mother particles (A) and at least part of the reactive groups of the organic compound (B) react with each other to form crosslinks.

Abstract: A particle with a rough surface for plating or vapor deposition which has been formed from a base (A) having first functional groups on the surface thereof and particles (B) having on the surface thereof second functional groups reactive with the first functional groups and having an average particle diameter which is smaller than the diameter of the base (A) and not smaller than 0.1 ?m, by uniting the base (A) with the particles (B) through chemical bonds between the first functional groups and the second functional groups, wherein the base (A) has at least two projecting parts on the surface thereof. In this particle, the base has been tenaciously bonded to the protruding particles. Because of this, even when the protruding particles used have a size not smaller than the given size, the particle with a rough surface can secure a surface area while maintaining a thickness of a conductive coating film. As a result, the particle can have high conductivity.

Abstract: Conductive particles each includes a polymer base particle and a conductive layer coating the polymer base particle. Let the compressive elastic deformation characteristic KX of one conductive particle when the displacement of particle diameter of the conductive particles is X % be defined by the following formula: KX=(3/?2)·(SX?3/2)·(R?1/2)·FX. FX is the load (N) necessary for X % displacement of the conductive particles. SX is the compressive deformation amount (mm) upon X % displacement of the conductive particles. R is the particle radius (mm) of the conductive particles. The compressive elastic deformation characteristic K50 when the displacement of particle diameter of the conductive particles is 50% is 100 to 50000 N/mm2 at 20° C., and the recovery factor of particle diameter of the conductive particles when the displacement of particle diameter of the conductive particles is 50% is not less than 30% at 20° C.

Abstract: A particle having a rough surface and obtained from a particle (A) having grafted on the surface thereof a polymer having first functional groups and particles (B) having grafted on the surface thereof a polymer having second functional groups reactive with the first functional groups, by uniting the particle (A) with the particles (B) through chemical bonds between the first functional groups and the second functional groups. In this particle with a rough surface, the core particle has been tenaciously bonded to the protruding particles. Because of this, even when the protruding particles have an increased particle diameter, the protruding particles can be prevented from readily shedding from the core particle.