Abstract: Disclosed is a porous metal oxide obtained by subjecting metal alkoxide and/or a partially hydrolyzed condensate of the metal alkoxide to a sol-gel reaction in the presence of terminally branched copolymer particles represented by the following general formula (1) and having a number average molecular weight of not more than 2.5×104 to obtain an organic-inorganic composite and removing the terminally branched copolymer particles from the composite.

Abstract: The laminate according to the invention is comprised of a base material (A), a silicon-containing layer (B) and a polymer layer (C) obtained from an organic acid metallic salt having a polymerizable group. The silicon-containing layer (B) and the polymer layer (C) are sequentially laminated over at least one surface of the base material (A), the silicon-containing layer (B) includes a high nitrogen concentration region comprised of silicon atoms and nitrogen atoms, silicon atoms and nitrogen atoms and oxygen atoms, or silicon atoms and nitrogen atoms and oxygen atoms and carbon atoms. The high nitrogen concentration region is formed by irradiating energy ray onto a polysilazane film formed over the base material (A) under an oxygen concentration equal to or lower than 5% and/or a relative humidity at room temperature (23° C.) equal to or lower than 30% so as to denature at least a part of the film.

Abstract: A hard coating composition including at least the following components (A) to (E): Component (A): A poly(methyl)glycidyl ether compound derived from a chain aliphatic polyol or a chain aliphatic polyether polyol, which may or may not contain a hydroxyl group, Component (B): A silsesquioxane compound containing a cationic polymerizable group, Component (C): A silicate compound, Component (D): A silane compound containing a cationic polymerizable group, or a partial condensed compound thereof, or a mixture thereof, and Component (E): A cationic photopolymerization initiator, wherein the composition includes 5 to 40 parts by weight of the component (A), 60 to 95 parts by weight of the total of the components (B), (C) and (D), and 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of the component (E), each based on 100 parts by weight of the total of the components (A) to (D).

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing an optical film composed of a transparent resin and a metal oxide, which film has high light transmittance and light diffusion property even it is formed thin. Also disclosed is such an optical film. Specifically disclosed is a method for producing an optical film having a total light transmittance of not less than 70% and a haze value of not less than 20%, which comprises a step (A) wherein a metal compound to form a metal oxide through a sol-gel reaction is subjected to a sol-gel reaction in a solvent; a step (B) for providing a solution containing a transparent resin as a solute; a step (C) for mixing the mixture obtained in the step (A) with the solution obtained in the step (B); and a step (D) wherein the mixture obtained in the step (C) is applied or spread over a substrate or container and then heated for evaporating the solvent, thereby forming a film thereon.

Abstract: A multilayered material is provided which includes a substrate and a silicon-containing film formed on the substrate, wherein the silicon-containing film has a nitrogen-rich area including silicon atoms and nitrogen atoms, or silicon atoms, nitrogen atoms, and an oxygen atoms and the nitrogen-rich area is formed by irradiating a polysilazane film formed on the substrate with an energy beam in an atmosphere not substantially including oxygen or water vapor and denaturing at least a part of the polysilazane film. A method of producing the multilayered material is also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a porous metal oxide obtained by subjecting metal alkoxide and/or a partially hydrolyzed condensate of the metal alkoxide to a sol-gel reaction in the presence of terminally branched copolymer particles represented by the following general formula (1) and having a number average molecular weight of not more than 2.

Abstract: Provided are polymer particles composed of a terminally branched copolymer represented by the following general formula (1) and having a number average molecular weight of not more than 2.5×104, wherein, in the formula, A represents a polyolefin chain; R1 and R2 each represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, and at least one of R1 and R2 is a hydrogen atom; and X1 and X2 may be the same or different, and each a linear or branched polyalkylene glycol group.

Abstract: Disclosed is a composition having gas-barrier properties, comprising: a water-soluble polymer (X), a metal alkoxide and/or a hydrolysis condensate thereof (C) and an esterification catalyst (E), wherein said water-soluble polymer (X) contains at least one of (i) a mixture of a water-soluble polymer having hydroxyl groups (A) and a water-soluble polymer having carboxyl groups (B), and (ii) a water-soluble polymer having a hydroxyl group and a carboxyl group (AB) and said component (C) is contained in an amount of not less than 460 parts by weight and not more than 2,700 parts by weight, and said component (E) is contained in an amount of not less than 0.01 part by weight and not more than 100 parts by weight, relative to 100 parts by weight of said water-soluble polymer (X).

Abstract: A composition having gas-barrier properties, which can produce a resin film having gas-barrier properties under high humidity conditions and high abrasion resistance, and a coating film formed by thermally treating a film-like product of the composition having gas-barrier properties and a method for producing the same are provided. A composition having gas-barrier properties, comprising a water-soluble polymer having hydroxyl group (A), a water-soluble polymer having carboxyl group (B), a metal alkoxide and/or a hydrolysis condensate thereof (C), and an esterification catalyst (E), such that the weight ratio of the component (A) and the component (B) is 97/3 to 3/97, and the component (C) is contained in an amount ranging from 1 part by weight to 400 parts by weight, while the component (E) is contained in an amount ranging from 0.

Abstract: A hard coating composition including at least the following components (A) to (E): Component (A): A poly(methyl)glycidyl ether compound derived from a chain aliphatic polyol or a chain aliphatic polyether polyol, which may or may not contain a hydroxyl group, Component (B): A silsesquioxane compound containing a cationic polymerizable group, Component (C): A silicate compound, Component (D): A silane compound containing a cationic polymerizable group, or a partial condensed compound thereof, or a mixture thereof, and Component (E): A cationic photopolymerization initiator, wherein the composition includes 5 to 40 parts by weight of the component (A), 60 to 95 parts by weight of the total of the components (B), (C) and (D), and 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of the component (E), each based on 100 parts by weight of the total of the components (A) to (D).

Abstract: A composition having gas-barrier properties, which can produce a resin film having gas-barrier properties under high humidity conditions and high abrasion resistance, and a coating film formed by thermally treating a film-like product of the composition having gas-barrier properties and a method for producing the same are provided. A composition having gas-barrier properties, comprising a water-soluble polymer having hydroxyl group (A), a water-soluble polymer having carboxyl group (B), a metal alkoxide and/or a hydrolysis condensate thereof (C), and an esterification catalyst (E), such that the weight ratio of the component (A) and the component (B) is 97/3 to 3/97, and the component (C) is contained in an amount ranging from 1 part by weight to 400 parts by weight, while the component (E) is contained in an amount ranging from 0.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing an optical film composed of a transparent resin and a metal oxide, which film has high light transmittance and light diffusion property even it is formed thin. Also disclosed is such an optical film. Specifically disclosed is a method for producing an optical film having a total light transmittance of not less than 70% and a haze value of not less than 20%, which comprises a step (A) wherein a metal compound to form a metal oxide through a sol-gel reaction is subjected to a sol-gel reaction in a solvent; a step (B) for providing a solution containing a transparent resin as a solute; a step (C) for mixing the mixture obtained in the step (A) with the solution obtained in the step (B); and a step (D) wherein the mixture obtained in the step (C) is applied or spread over a substrate or container and then heated for evaporating the solvent, thereby forming a film thereon.

Abstract: A composition having gas-barrier properties, which can produce a resin film having gas-barrier properties under high humidity conditions and high abrasion resistance, and a coating film formed by thermally treating a film-like product of the composition having gas-barrier properties and a method for producing the same are provided. A composition having gas-barrier properties, comprising a water-soluble polymer having hydroxyl group (A), a water-soluble polymer having carboxyl group (B), a metal alkoxide and/or a hydrolysis condensate thereof (C), and an esterification catalyst (E), such that the weight ratio of the component (A) and the component (B) is 97/3 to 3/97, and the component (C) is contained in an amount ranging from 1 part by weight to 400 parts by weight, while the component (E) is contained in an amount ranging from 0.

Abstract: The polyimide metal laminate has at least one resin layer produced from a silica-dispersed polyimide composition obtained by reacting (A) alkoxysilane and/or its partial hydrolysis polycondensate with (B) an amino-containing compound having a functional group capable of forming a bond with silica, in the presence of water in a polyimide solution and/or a polyamic acid solution.

Abstract: A composition having gas-barrier properties, which can produce a resin film having gas-barrier properties under high humidity conditions and high abrasion resistance, and a coating film formed by thermally treating a film-like product of the composition having gas-barrier properties and a method for producing the same are provided. A composition having gas-barrier properties, comprising a water-soluble polymer having hydroxyl group (A), a water-soluble polymer having carboxyl group (B), a metal alkoxide and/or a hydrolysis condensate thereof (C), and an esterification catalyst (E), such that the weight ratio of the component (A) and the component (B) is 97/3 to 3/97, and the component (C) is contained in an amount ranging from 1 part by weight to 400 parts by weight, while the component (E) is contained in an amount ranging from 0.

Abstract: The polyimide metal laminate has at least one resin layer produced from a silica-dispersed polyimide composition obtained by reacting (A) alkoxysilane and/or its partial hydrolysis polycondensate with (B) an amino-containing compound having a functional group capable of forming a bond with silica, in the presence of water in a polyimide solution and/or a polyamic acid solution.

Abstract: An organic polymer/inorganic fine particle-dispersed aqueous solution having excellent dispersion stability comprising a water-slightly soluble inorganic fine particle (B) having a particle diameter of 500 nm or less obtained by reacting (a) a compound of a second group element in the periodic table with (b) at least one compound selected from organic acids, inorganic acids and salts thereof in the presence of a water-soluble or water-dispersible synthetic high molecular compound (A) having a carboxyl group in a proportion of (A):(B)=10:90 to 99.99:0.01 (weight ratio). The above dispersed aqueous solution can be used as a paper-making chemical, an ink jet recording chemical, medical materials and cosmetic raw materials.

Abstract: An amphipathic compound represented by any of the following Formulas: (R1 is a linear or branched, saturated hydrocarbon group having 6 to 48 carbon atoms, or a linear or branched, unsaturated hydrocarbon group containing 1 to 12 unsaturated double bond and having 6 to 48 carbon atoms; Y is NH, N—(CH2—CH═CH2), or O; Q is —CH2—C(R2)═CH2 or —R4—O—CO—C(R2)═CH2; and M is alkali metal, an ammonium group, or —(CH2CH2O)mH), a copolymer of the amphipatic compound with a copolymerizable ethylenically unsaturated compound and, a paper making additive containing a water soluble or dispersible high molecular compound as an active ingredient and processes for producing these high molecular compounds.

Abstract: An amphipathic compound represented by any of the following Formulas: ##STR1## (R.sub.1 is a linear or branched, saturated hydrocarbon group having 6 to 48 carbon atoms, or a linear or branched, unsaturated hydrocarbon group containing 1 to 12 unsaturated double bond and having 6 to 48 carbon atoms; Y is NH, N--(CH.sub.2 --CH.dbd.CH.sub.2), or O; Q is --CH.sub.2 --C(R.sub.2).dbd.CH.sub.2 or --R.sub.4 --O--CO--C(R.sub.2).dbd.CH.sub.2 ; and M is alkali metal, an ammonium group, or --(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.m H), a copolymer of the amphipatic compound with a copolymerizable ethylenically unsaturated compound and, a paper making additive containing a water soluble or dispersible high molecular compound as an active ingredient and processes for producing these high molecular compounds.

Abstract: Provided are an amphipathic compound represented by any of the following Formulas: ##STR1## (R.sub.1 is a linear or branched, saturated hydrocarbon group having 6 to 48 carbon atoms, or a linear or branched, unsaturated hydrocarbon group containing 1 to 12 unsaturated double bond and having 6 to 48 carbon atoms; Y is NH, N--(CH.sub.2 --CH.dbd.CH.sub.2), or O; Q is --CH.sub.2 --C(R.sub.2).dbd.CH.sub.2 or --R.sub.4 --O--CO--C(R.sub.2).dbd.CH.sub.2 ; and M is alkali metal, an ammonium group, or --(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.m H), a copolymer of the amphipatic compound with a copolymerizable ethylenically unsaturated compound and, a paper making additive containing a water soluble or dispersible high molecular compound as an active ingredient and processes for producing these high molecular compounds.