Abstract: The present invention relates to a solid polymer electrolyte membrane having both of a higher proton conductivity and a smaller methanol permeability, which can be produced by conducting a graft polymerization of a fluororesin thin membrane irradiated with a radiation with a monofunctional monomer and again irradiating the resulting film with a radiation, followed by conducting a graft polymerization thereof with a polyfunctional monomer; and a high-performance fuel cell comprising the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, a fuel electrode and an air electrode, said solid polymer electrolyte membrane being disposed between the fuel electrode and the air electrode.

Abstract: A curable resin composition comprising (a) a compound having at least one ethylenically unsaturated group and at least one ion conductive group, (b) a compound having at least two ethylenically unsaturated groups, (c) an organosilicon compound having at least two SiH groups, (d) a platinum group catalyst, and (e) a solvent is dried and cured by heating into a cured film having excellent ionic conduction and serving as electrolyte membrane. The electrolyte membrane and an electrolyte membrane/electrode assembly satisfy fuel cell-related properties including ionic conduction and film strength as well as productivity.

Abstract: A liquid curable resin composition comprising a compound having an ethylenically unsaturated group and an ion conductive group and optionally, an oligomer having at least two reactive groups is cured by heat and/or UV or EB irradiation to form an electrolyte membrane having excellent ionic conduction. The composition has a viscosity of 100-100,000 mPa·s at 25° C. so that it is readily applicable. The electrolyte membrane and an electrolyte membrane/electrode assembly for use in fuel cells satisfy cell-related properties including ionic conduction and film strength as well as productivity.

Abstract: An electrolyte membrane for fuel cells is prepared by irradiating with radiation a composition comprising a radiation-curable liquid compound having proton conductivity for curing the liquid compound to form a cured film. The methods of the invention are successful in producing an electrolyte membrane and an electrolyte membrane/electrode assembly for fuel cells while satisfying both the requirements of productivity and cell-related properties including proton conduction and membrane strength.

Abstract: An optical fiber is prepared by applying a liquid electron beam-curable resin composition to a bare optical fiber or a coated optical fiber having a primary or secondary coating on a bare optical fiber, irradiating electron beams to the resin composition on the optical fiber for curing while the optical fiber passes a zone under substantially atmospheric pressure, and providing a magnetic field and optionally an electric field in the zone for thereby improving the efficiency of electron irradiation. The method can comply with the increased drawing speed of the bare optical fiber and does not detract from the transmission properties of the optical fiber.

Abstract: An electron beam system for treating filamentary workpieces includes an electron beam irradiation chamber having openings through which passes a filamentary workpiece, an electron beam generator including means for generating, accelerating and focusing electrons, and a communicating section which connects the electron beam generator with the electron beam irradiation chamber. The system also has a differential evacuating means for holding the pressure within the electron beam generator below that within the electron beam irradiation chamber. Electrons are generated, accelerated, and focused by the electron beam generator into a beam which passes from the generator through the communicating section to the electron beam irradiation chamber where the beam is directed at a filamentary workpiece. The system is able to uniformly, efficiently, and continuously apply electron beam irradiation to a traveling filamentary workpiece.

Abstract: In a coated optical fiber comprising a quartz glass fiber, a primary coating and a secondary coating, the secondary coating is formed by curing a resin composition comprising (A) 20-90 wt % of a polyurethane (meth)acrylate oligomer which is synthesized from an alicyclic polyisocyanate, contains 5-90 wt % of a polyurethane (meth)acrylate oligomer having a Mn of up to 1,000, and has an overall Mn of up to 10,000, and (B) 80-10 wt % of an ethylenically unsaturated compound, with electron beams accelerated at 50-125 kV. The coated optical fiber has a minimized transmission loss.

Abstract: A liquid radiation-curable resin composition comprising the reaction product obtained by reacting (A) a polyether having a (meth)acryloyl group and a hydroxyl group at opposite ends with (B) a diisocyanate having two isocyanate groups in a molar ratio from 1.8/1 to 2.2/1 has a low viscosity enough to coat on an optical fiber at a high speed. Upon curing, it forms a coating having a minimized water absorption on the optical fiber.

Abstract: An optical fiber coating material is provided in the form of an electron beam-curable resin composition comprising a polyurethane having at least two ethylenically unsaturated groups, a reactive diluent, and a compound having both nitrogen and sulfur atoms. The optical fiber coating material is sufficiently EB curable to minimize the dependency of gel fraction and Young's modulus on an EB dose and to comply with the high-speed drawing of optical fiber. The coating material is cured with EB under specific conditions to achieve a sufficient degree of cure and uniform properties without adversely affecting the transmission loss of the optical fiber.

Abstract: In a coated optical fiber comprising a quartz glass fiber, a primary coating and a secondary coating, the secondary coating is formed by curing a resin composition comprising (A) 20-90 wt % of a polyurethane (meth)acrylate oligomer which is synthesized from an alicyclic polyisocyanate, contains 5-90 wt % of a polyurethane (meth)acrylate oligomer having a Mn of up to 1,000, and has an overall Mn of up to 10,000, and (B) 80-10 wt % of an ethylenically unsaturated compound, with electron beams accelerated at 50-125 kV. The coated optical fiber has a minimized transmission loss.

Abstract: An optical fiber is prepared by applying a liquid electron beam-curable resin composition to a bare optical fiber or a coated optical fiber having a primary or secondary coating on a bare optical fiber, irradiating electron beams to the resin composition on the optical fiber for curing while the optical fiber passes a zone under substantially atmospheric pressure, and providing a magnetic field and optionally an electric field in the zone for thereby improving the efficiency of electron irradiation. The method can comply with the increased drawing speed of the bare optical fiber and does not detract from the transmission properties of the optical fiber.

Abstract: Methods for curing a coating material, including a primary coating material, a secondary coating material, and a taping material, on an optical fiber. An optical fiber coating material having (A) 100 parts by weight of a polyether polyurethane bearing at least two ethylenically unsaturated groups with a Mn of 800-10,000, and (B) 1-40 parts by weight of a nitrogenous reactive diluent is cured by irradiating thereto electron beams, produced by driving electrons under an accelerating voltage of 50-190 kV, in a dose of 10-100 kGy. The method succeeds in effectively curing the optical fiber coating material into a cured coating having stable properties.

Abstract: In a coated optical fiber comprising a quartz glass fiber, a primary coating, and a secondary coating, the secondary coating is formed by curing a resin composition comprising (A) 20-90 wt % of polyurethane (meth)acrylate oligomer having a Mn of up to 20,000 and (B) 80-10 wt % of a mono-ethylenically unsaturated compound containing at least one N-vinyl compound, whose homopolymer has a Tg of at least 50° C., with electron beams accelerated at a low voltage of 50-125 kV. The coated optical fiber has a minimized transmission loss.

Abstract: An optical fiber having one or more resin coatings is manufactured by applying at least one electron beam-curable resin composition to a bare optical fiber, and exposing the resin composition to electron beams to cure the resin composition. The EB-curable resin composition contains (A) 10-90% by weight of a urethane (meth)acrylate oligomer and (B) 90-10% by weight of a reactive diluent. The exposure to electron beams is done under conditions including (a) an acceleration voltage of 50-150 kV, (b) a distance of 0.5 mm to less than 10 mm between an electron beam window and the optical fiber surface, (c) an atmosphere of nitrogen or helium under atmospheric pressure, having (d) an oxygen concentration of up to 1,000 ppm, and (e) at least two directions of irradiation to the optical fiber.

Abstract: An electron beam system for treating filamentary workpieces includes an electron beam irradiation chamber having openings through which passes a filamentary workpiece, an electron beam generator including means for generating, accelerating and focusing electrons, and a communicating section which connects the electron beam generator with the electron beam irradiation chamber. The system also has a differential evacuating means for holding the pressure within the electron beam generator below that within the electron beam irradiation chamber. Electrons are generated, accelerated, and focused by the electron beam generator into a beam which passes from the generator through the communicating section to the electron beam irradiation chamber where the beam is directed at a filamentary workpiece. The system is able to uniformly, efficiently, and continuously apply electron beam irradiation to a traveling filamentary workpiece.

Abstract: An optical fiber coating material comprising (A) 100 parts by weight of a polyether polyurethane bearing at least two ethylenically unsaturated groups with a Mn of 800-10,000, and (B) 1-40 parts by weight of a nitrogenous reactive diluent is cured by irradiating thereto electron beams, produced by driving electrons under an accelerating voltage of 50-190 kV, in a dose of 10-100 kGy. The method succeeds in effectively curing the optical fiber coating material into a cured coating having stable properties.

Abstract: In connection with a unit (3) for irradiating electron beams to a curable coating on a filament (1) for curing the coating, x-ray shielding tubes (6 and 7) are disposed upstream of an inlet (3a) and downstream of an outlet (3b) of the irradiating unit (3), respectively, for shielding secondary x-rays resulting from the electron beam irradiation. Secondary x-rays emanating from electron beams irradiated to the curable coating on the filament can be shielded in a simple way. The invention helps establish a safe working environment without detracting from process efficiency.

Abstract: An epoxy group-bearing organopolysiloxane or organosilane is prepared by effecting addition reaction between an organohydropolysiloxane or organohydrosilane and an alkenyl group-bearing epoxy compound in the presence of an addition reaction catalyst. A cyano group-bearing compound is co-present in the reaction system. The end organopolysiloxane or organosilane having a stabilized viscosity is obtained while avoiding gelation or thickening during reaction.

Abstract: A novel acrylic functional organopolysiloxane is obtained by effecting addition reaction between (A) an organopolysiloxane having acrylic functional groups and (B) an organopolysiloxane having a hydride group at either end to induce partial crosslinking. The acrylic functional organopolysiloxane forms a cured film ensuring light release and good retention of adhesion.

Abstract: A solventless curable silicone release composition contains (A) a branched organopolysiloxane having a vinyl group attached to a silicon atom at an end of its molecular chain, (B) an organohydrogenpolysiloxane having at least three SiH groups in a molecule, and (C) a platinum group metal catalyst. The composition is easily applicable to a thin gage and cures into a releasable silicone coating ensuring light release at high speeds. A release sheet having the cured coating formed thereon has improved release characteristics.