Abstract: It is intended to provide resin foamed particles having a high environmental compatibility. Furthermore, it is intended to provide an economical and easy-to-use method of producing resin foamed particles having biodegradability without using a crosslinking agent, which should be handled with care, in the step of producing foamed resin particles. It is also intended to provide a molded article made of foamed particles having an extremely high heat insulating property and a biodegradability. Thermoplastic polyester-type resin foamed particles, in which the ratio of cells with diameter of 50 ?m or less amounts to 20% or more in an arbitrary two-dimensional section of a thermoplastic polyester-type resin foamed particles, are first produced and then a molded article is produced with the use of these resin foamed particles.

Abstract: The object is to provide a molded product of foamed particles obtained by charging biodegradable resin foamed particles which are of vegetable origin and excellent in environmental compatibility into a mold, followed by heat molding, which molded product is not accompanied by post shrinkage after the molding with a wide range of variation of processing in the molding. Further, P3HA resin foamed particles being composed of a resin composition that comprises an isocyanate compound, and a polymer, poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate), having a recurring unit represented by the general formula (1): [—O—CHR—CH2—CO—]??(1) (wherein R represents an alkyl group represented by CnH2n+1, wherein n is an integer of from 1 to 15) produced by a microorganism are provided.

Abstract: Provided are an aliphatic polyester resin foam which has a compressive stress equal to or below that of 50-fold expanded polystyrol foam and which exhibits excellent degradability and excellent shock absorption performance, a biodegradable flower arrangement holder which has not only such low compression strength as to permit arbitrary insertion of flowers but also supporting power and which is excellent in water permeability and water-holding capacity, and processes for production of both. Aliphatic polyester resin expansion moldings which are produced from expanded aliphatic polyester resin particles and which have weight-average molecular weights of 5000 to 140000 and expansion ratios of 10 or above.

Abstract: Biodegradable aliphatic polyester-based resin foamed particles that are excellent in environmental suitability and are produced using a source material derived from a plant, and a molded product of the same are provided. Thus, biodegradable aliphatic polyester-based resin foamed particles retaining high rigidity even when foamed at a high degree and having heat resistance, and a molded product are provided. Biodegradable aliphatic polyester-based resin foamed particles produced by foaming a resin composition obtained by melting and kneading a base resin constituted with a polymer (poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate)) having one or more recurring unit represented by the formula: [—O—CHR—CH2—CO—] (wherein, R is an alkyl group represented by CnH2n+1; and n is an integer of 1 to 15) and a polylactic acid-based resin, and an isocyanate compound. A molded product is produced by filling the resin foamed particles into a die, followed by heating and molding.

Abstract: It is intended to provide resin foamed particles having a high environmental compatibility. Furthermore, it is intended to provide an economical and easy-to-use method of producing resin foamed particles having biodegradability without using a crosslinking agent, which should be handled with care, in the step of producing foamed resin particles. It is also intended to provide a molded article made of foamed particles having an extremely high heat insulating property and a biodegradability. Thermoplastic polyester-type resin foamed particles, in which the ratio of cells with diameter of 50 ?m or less amounts to 20% or more in an arbitrary two-dimensional section of a thermoplastic polyester-type resin foamed particles, are first produced and then a molded article is produced with the use of these resin foamed particles.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide expanded polyhydroxyalkanoate resin beads which are satisfactory and have biodegradability, the molded product thereof, and process for producing the expanded resin beads. The object can be achieved by expanded poly(3-hydroxyalkaonate) (abbreviated to P3HA) resin beads obtained from a P3HA resin composition comprising: a copolymer which comprises repeating units of one or more kinds represented by the formula (1): [—O—CHR—CH2—CO—] (wherein R is alkyl represented by CnH2n+1, provided that n is an integer of 1-15) and is yielded by a microorganism (this copolymer is P3HA); and an isocyanate compound, and having a melt viscosity of 500 Pa·s or higher when examined under the conditions of a shear rate of 122 sec?1 and a temperature of from Tm1 to Tm2, wherein Tm1 is the melting temperature of the P3HA resin composition and Tm2=Tm1+20° C., provided that Tm2<180° C.

Abstract: It is intended to provide polyhydroxyalkanoate resin foamed particles having a biodegradability and favorable properties, a molded article thereof and a method of producing these resin foamed particles. Namely, resin foamed particles obtained by foaming a copolymer (hereinafter referred to as poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate); abbreviated as P3HA), which is produced by a microorganism, has a weight-average molecular weight of from 50000 to 2000000 and has a repeating unit represented by the general formula (1): [—CHR—CH2—CO—O—] (wherein R represents an alkyl group represented by CnH2n+1 and n is an integer of from 1 to 15), a molded article formed by using these foamed particles and a method of producing these foamed particles.

Abstract: It is intended to provide an easy-to-use, energy-saving and economical method of producing foamed resin particles having a high environmental compatibility by using an ether, which generates neither sulfur oxide nor sot in the course of disposal and incineration and enables considerable reduction in nitrogen oxide formation, and further using a resin which originates in a plant and contributes to the carbon dioxide fixation.

Abstract: The object is to provide a molded product of foamed particles obtained by charging biodegradable resin foamed particles which are of vegetable origin and excellent in environmental compatibility into a mold, followed by heat molding, which molded product is not accompanied by post shrinkage after the molding with a wide range of variation of processing in the molding. Further, P3HA resin foamed particles being composed of a resin composition that comprises an isocyanate compound, and a polymer, poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate), having a recurring unit represented by the general formula (1): [—O—CHR—CH2—CO—]??(1) (wherein R represents an alkyl group represented by CnH2n+1, wherein n is an integer of from 1 to 15) produced by a microorganism are provided.

Abstract: An extruded foam excelling in environmental friendliness and having biodegradability; and a stable process for producing the same. There is provided a process for producing an extruded foam of P3HA resin, characterized by melt-kneading a copolymer (poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate), P3HA) having at least one type of repeating unit of the formula: —O—CHR—CH2—CO— (1) (wherein R is an alkyl group represented by CnH2n+1 and n is an integer of 1 to 15) produced by a microorganism, a volatile foaming agent, a fatty acid amide compound and/or liquid paraffin to thereby obtain a mixture and extruding the mixture through molding die into a low-pressure zone.

Abstract: A process for producing an extruded foam of a poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) (P3HA) yielded from a microorganism. The foam has a high expansion ratio and a high open cell rate and is excellent in environmental compatibility and biodegradability. The process for producing an extruded P3HA resin foam comprises melt-kneading a P3HA together with a volatile foaming agent to produce a mixture and extruding the mixture through a molding die into a low-pressure region, and is characterized in that the resin temperature To at the time when the mixture of a P3HA and a volatile foaming agent is extruded from the extruder (resin temperature measured at the extruder ejection opening with a thermocouple) is in the range shown by the following relationship. Tc?20?To (° C.)?Tc+20 (Tc=(Tg+Tm)/2, wherein Tg represents the glass transition temperature of the P3HA and Tm represents the melting point of the P3HA.

Abstract: The present invention provides a join structure comprised of a box section column and split T-section joined by a high strength bolt and a method of securing a nut to an inside of the box section column. The present invention further provides a Torque-Shear type high strength bolt tightly tightened by a controlled tension and a joining method of a steel member using that bolt. The join structure is comprised of a box section column, a split T-section attached to its outer surface, and a high strength bolt inserted from the outside of the split T-section and fastened with the nut. The nut is secured to the box section column by joining a sleeve secured to a washer formed integrally with the nut and a sleeve of a nut holding part from the outside of the column. The Torque-Shear type high strength bolt has a pintail for controlling the torque at its top.

Abstract: The present invention has for its object to obtain a composition and a molded product thereof excellent in processability, strength, impact resistance, heat resistance and water resistance and, when discarded, are biodegradable under the action of microorganisms and the like in an aerobic or anaerobic environment and, further, a plant origin composition and a molded product thereof, which can positively fix carbon dioxide on the earth. Such characteristics can hardly be attained with the above-mentioned chemically synthesized aliphatic polyesters or natural polymers such as starch. The present invention relates to a composition which comprises kenaf fibers and a poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) produced by microorganisms and comprising a repeating unit represented by the formula (1): [—O—CHR—CH2—CO—] in the formula, R represents an alkyl group represented by CnH2n+1 with n representing an integer of 1 to 15, and a molded product thereof.

Abstract: A join structure comprises a box section column and spit T-section joined by a high strength bolt and a method secures a nut to an inside of the box section column. A Torque-Shear type high strength bolt is tightly tightened by a controlled tension and a joining method of a steel member uses that bolt. The join structure is comprised of a box section column, a split T-section attached to its outer surface, and a high strength bolt inserted from the outside of the split T-section and fastened with the nut. The nut is secured to the box section column by joining a sleeve secured to a washer formed integrally with the nut and a sleeve of a nut holding part from the outside of the column. The Torque-Shear type high strength bolt has a pintail for controlling the torque at its top.

Abstract: A bolt set is provided that is made of steel free from technical difficulties in production, inexpensive in production cost, and improved in fatigue strength by a simple configuration. More particularly, a bolt set made of steel in which a tensile fluctuation stress acts upon an external thread side, characterized by setting a pitch difference ?P(=Pf?Pm) between a pitch Pm of the external thread and a pitch Pf of the internal thread within a range of 0.5-0.8% based on a pitch P prescribed in JIS B 0205 of Japan Industrial Standard.

Abstract: The present invention provides a join structure comprised of a box section column and split T-section joined by a high strength bolt and a method of securing a nut to an inside of the box section column. The present invention further provides a Torque-Shear type high strength bolt tightly tightened by a controlled tension and a joining method of a steel member using that bolt. The join structure is comprised of a box section column, a split T-section attached to its outer surface, and a high strength bolt inserted from the outside of the split T-section and fastened with the nut. The nut is secured to the box section column by joining a sleeve secured to a washer formed integrally with the nut and a sleeve of a nut holding part from the outside of the column.

Abstract: A reflector comprising a laser mirror resists the accumulation of electric charge upon irradiation with a laser beam. The laser mirror comprises a transparent substrate, a plurality of dielectric layers formed over the surface of the substrate, and a conductive layer formed on top of the dielectric layers. The conductive film over the top surface of the dielectric films prevents an accumulation of electric charge. The charge is uniformly distributed by the conductive layer, and the surface potential on the reflector is reduced. As the laser beam irradiated part of the reflector does not remain charged, dust or water vapor in the air is not attracted to the reflector. The conductive layer can be grounded, thereby further preventing the accumulation of electric charge.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method and system which employs a distinguishing document placed between each document set which distinguished the documents for one destination from the documents of another destination. In accordance with this invention, the number of documents within each set are counted by counting the documents fed until the distinguishing document is detected, this number is then compared with the number entered in advance for each destination. When a difference between these numbers occurs, it is then determined that double feeding has occurred and a warning is indicated.

Abstract: A chloroprene rubber composition having a high resistance to thermal aging and a high oil resistance is prepared by admixing a chloroprene-methacrylate copolymer with chloroprene rubber and vulcanizing the mixture in the presence of quinone dioxime dibenzoate and a metal oxide.