Abstract: Provided is a chromium-free metal surface treatment agent excellent in rust inhibitive performance which can be used in a surface treatment of metal products, in particular, galvanized metal products. The metal surface treatment agent consists essentially of a siliceous binder solution comprising water and/or alcohol as a solvent, and the concentration of the silica component is 8 to 25% by weight. In particular, a metal surface treatment agent containing an alcoholic solution of alkoxysilane oligomer having a weight averaged molecular weight of 1000 to 10000, which is obtained by hydrolyzed condensation polymerization of alkoxysilane, can suppress the occurrence of white rusting for a long time. It is preferred that 3 to 25 parts by weight of a dispersed nano-sized titanium dioxide powder having an average primary particle size of not more than 70 nm, per 100 parts by weight of the silica component be suspended in the siliceous binder solution.

Abstract: The printer includes a CPU, a bridge image processing unit, a RAM, a ROM, a supply power control unit, a printing unit, a communication I/F, and physical layer I/Fs. When the Ethernet is connected to the communication I/F, if the DMA transfer request signal is not outputted from the DMAC for more than a specific time, the supply power control unit shifts into the sleep mode that halts the supplies of clock to the CPU, etc.; and if data is received from the host computer group, the supply power control unit releases the sleep mode. Further, in case that equipment conforming to the USB standard or the IEEE 1284 is connected to the communication I/F, if the DMA transfer request signal is not outputted from the DMAC for more than the specific time, the supply power control unit shifts into the power halt mode that halts the supply of power to the CPU, etc. Thus, the invention provides a printer capable of effectively reducing the power consumption.

Abstract: Provided is a chromium-free metal surface treatment agent excellent in rust inhibitive performance which can be used in a surface treatment of metal products, in particular, galvanized metal products. The metal surface treatment agent consists essentially of a siliceous binder solution comprising water and/or alcohol as a solvent, and the concentration of the silica component is 8 to 25% by weight. In particular, a metal surface treatment agent containing an alcoholic solution of alkoxysilane oligomer having a weight averaged molecular weight of 1000 to 10000, which is obtained by hydrolyzed condensation polymerization of alkoxysilane, can suppress the occurrence of white rusting for a long time. It is preferred that 3 to 25 parts by weight of a dispersed nano-sized titanium dioxide powder having an average primary particle size of not more than 70 nm, per 100 parts by weight of the silica component be suspended in the siliceous binder solution.

Abstract: Provided is a chromium-free surface treatment method which imparts practical rust inhibitive performance to a metal product having a zinc surface to which it was difficult to impart rust inhibitive performance of practical level. A conversion-coated film of zinc phosphate etc. is formed on the zinc surface of the metal product as pretreatment, and the silica-based film is formed by applying a chromium-free surface treatment agent which uses alcohol or mixture of water and alcohol as a solvent to the conversion-coated film. As a result, when an aqueous surface treatment agent containing alcohol is applied, it is possible to suppress the formation of white rusting for 72 hours or longer in the salt spray test.

Abstract: A plating apparatus has an ashing unit (300) configured to perform an ashing process on a resist (502) applied on a surface of a seed layer (500) formed on a substrate (W), and a pre-wetting section (26) configured to provide hydrophilicity to a surface of the substrate after the ashing process. The plating apparatus includes a pre-soaking section (28) configured to bring the surface of the substrate into contact with a treatment solution to clean or activate a surface of the seed layer formed on the substrate. The plating apparatus also includes a plating unit (34) configured to bring the surface of the substrate into a plating solution in a plating tank while the resist is used as a mask so as to form a plated film (504) on the surface of the seed layer formed on the substrate.

Abstract: The printer includes a CPU, a bridge image processing unit, a RAM, a ROM, a supply power control unit, a printing unit, a communication I/F, and physical layer I/Fs. When the Ethernet is connected to the communication I/F, if the DMA transfer request signal is not outputted from the DMAC for more than a specific time, the supply power control unit shifts into the sleep mode that halts the supplies of clock to the CPU, etc.; and if data is received from the host computer group, the supply power control unit releases the sleep mode. Further, in case that equipment conforming to the USB standard or the IEEE 1284 is connected to the communication I/F, if the DMA transfer request signal is not outputted from the DMAC for more than the specific time, the supply power control unit shifts into the power halt mode that halts the supply of power to the CPU, etc. Thus, the invention provides a printer capable of effectively reducing the power consumption.

Abstract: Provided is a chromium-free rust inhibitive paint for metals which is obtained by mixing a flaky zinc powder into a water reducible binder solution containing a water reducible resin emulsion and a water soluble silane coupling agent. A thin film of a silane compound having a hydrophobic group is added to particle surfaces of the flaky zinc powder, whereby the flaky metallic zinc powder exhibits water repellent property. When a surface treatment agent which contains an alkoxysilane oligomer as an essential component is applied to the paint film of a rust inhibitive paint for metals, this extends the time until red rusting occurs on painted metal products to not less than twice and prevents white rusting and black rusting for a long time. Rust inhibitive performance is further improved by blending a nano-sized powder of titanium dioxide, polyvinyl butyral, a silane coupling agent, etc., with the surface treatment agent.

Abstract: A substrate holder holds a substrate while hermetically sealing an outer circumferential edge and a reverse side of the substrate and exposing a surface of the substrate. The substrate holder has a base and a cover having an opening defined therein and positioned to place the substrate between the base and the cover. An attracting mechanism couples the base and the cover to each other to hold the substrate between the base and the cover, with the surface of the substrate being exposed through the opening.

Abstract: Provided is a chromium-free metal surface treatment agent excellent in rust inhibitive performance which can be used in a surface treatment of metal products, in particular, galvanized metal products. The metal surface treatment agent consists essentially of a siliceous binder solution comprising water and/or alcohol as a solvent, and the concentration of the silica component is 8 to 25% by weight. In particular, a metal surface treatment agent containing an alcoholic solution of alkoxysilane oligomer having a weight averaged molecular weight of 1000 to 10000, which is obtained by hydrolyzed condensation polymerization of alkoxysilane, can suppress the occurrence of white rusting for a long time. It is preferred that 3 to 25 parts by weight of a dispersed nano-sized titanium dioxide powder having an average primary particle size of not more than 70 nm, per 100 parts by weight of the silica component be suspended in the siliceous binder solution.

Abstract: Provided is a chromium-free rust inhibitive paint for metals which is obtained by mixing a flaky zinc powder into a water reducible binder solution containing a water reducible resin emulsion and a water soluble silane coupling agent. A thin film of a silane compound having a hydrophobic group is added to particle surfaces of the flaky zinc powder, whereby the flaky metallic zinc powder exhibits water repellent property. When a surface treatment agent which contains an alkoxysilane oligomer as an essential component is applied to the paint film of a rust inhibitive paint for metals, this extends the time until red rusting occurs on painted metal products to not less than twice and prevents white rusting and black rusting for a long time. Rust inhibitive performance is further improved by blending a nano-sized powder of titanium dioxide, polyvinyl butyral, a silane coupling agent, etc., with the surface treatment agent.

Abstract: A substrate holder holds a substrate while hermetically sealing an outer circumferential edge and a reverse side of the substrate and exposing a surface of the substrate. The substrate holder has a base and a cover having an opening defined therein and positioned to place the substrate between the base and the cover. An attracting mechanism couples the base and the cover to each other to hold the substrate between the base and the cover, with the surface of the substrate being exposed through the opening.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a plating apparatus and method in which bubbles generated at the plating surfaces are easily removed and the uniformity of the thickness of the plated film within the plated surface can be improved. The plating apparatus comprises a cassette table for loading a cassette in which a substrate having a plating surface is contained. An aligner for aligning the substrate, a rinser-dryer for rinsing and drying the substrate, and a plating unit for plating the substrate are also provided. The plating unit comprises a plating vessel containing a plating solution, a holder for holding the substrate to immerse the substrate in the plating solution in the plating vessel. The plating surface is exposed to a nozzle which ejects the plating solution toward the plating surface.

Abstract: A chromium-free corrosion inhibiting coating composition, which does not utilize harmful chromium compounds and can be used for corrosion inhibition of a metal surface, comprising a slurry mixture in which coated aluminum fine powder treated with a hydrophilic coupling agent is suspended in an acidic phosphate bonding solution and which can be stored in a refrigerator, is disclosed. A titanium-coupling agent is preferable to use as the coupling agent, which treats a surface of the aluminum fine powder. In this aqueous chromium-free corrosion inhibiting coating composition, 25 to 40% by weight of the aluminum fine powder a surface of which is treated with the coupling agent is suspended in the acidic phosphate bonding solution.

Abstract: A substrate holder holds a substrate while hermetically sealing an outer circumferential edge and a reverse side of the substrate and exposing a surface of the substrate. The substrate holder has a base and a cover having an opening defined therein and positioned to place the substrate between the base and the cover. An attracting mechanism couples the base and the cover to each other to hold the substrate between the base and the cover, with the surface of the substrate being exposed through the opening.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a high-gloss, heat-resistant paint composition that can form a paint film having high gloss, hiding power, heat resistance and adhesion, a method for manufacturing the same, a method for applying a high-gloss, heat-resistant paint, and a high-gloss, heat-resistant paint film. The heat-resistant paint composition is prepared by combining inorganic pigment powder having hiding power and a binder solution chiefly consisting of an alcoholic solution of polysilicon alcoxide; the binder solution containing an effective amount of aluminum ingredient; the composition contains 8˜50 wt. % of hydrophilic organic solvent having a boiling point of not less than 100° C. and not more than 220° C.; the average particle size of primary particles of the inorganic pigment powder dispersed in the binder solution being not more than 0.3 &mgr;m; and the solidified paint film obtained when the composition has been dried and baked contains not less than 60 vol.

Abstract: A chromium-free corrosion inhibiting coating composition, which does not utilize harmful chromium compounds and can be used for corrosion inhibition of a metal surface, comprising a slurry mixture in which coated aluminum fine powder treated with a hydrophilic coupling agent is suspended in an acidic phosphate bonding solution and which can be stored in a refrigerator, is disclosed. A titanium-coupling agent is preferable to use as the coupling agent, which treats a surface of the aluminum fine powder. In this aqueous chromium-free corrosion inhibiting coating composition, 25 to 40% by weight of the aluminum fine powder a surface of which is treated with the coupling agent is suspended in the acidic phosphate bonding solution.

Abstract: A monolithic refractory powder mixture containing from 2 to 3 wt % of spheroidized refractory particles having a mean particle size of at most 30 .mu.m of at least one member selected from the group consisting of alumina cement, alumina, titania, bauxite, diaspore, mullite, aluminous shale, chamotte, pyrophyllite, sillimanite, andrewsite, silica rock, chromite, spinel, magnesia, zirconia, zircon, chromia, silicon nitride, aluminum nitride, silicon carbide, boron carbide, zirconium boride and titanium boride, and having a cone flow value of at least 180 mm when a refractory mixture having the powder mixture kneaded by an addition of 6 parts by weight of water per 100 parts by weight of the powder mixture, is cast into a cone-shaped mold with a dimension of 70 mm.o slashed.-100 mm.o slashed..times.60 mm and left to stand for 60 seconds without exerting vibration after removing the cone-shaped mold.

Abstract: A ceramics binder mixture having from 4.3 to 7 parts by weight, as calculated as silica, of a silica-sol mixed to 100 parts by weight of a mixture comprising (1) from 25 to 60 parts by weight of cordierite aggregates prepared by melting and vitrifying a mixture of an approximate cordierite composition (2MgO.2Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.5%SiO.sub.2), followed by crystallization to cordierite, and having a particle size of from 0.1 to 1 mm, (2) from 6 to 17 parts by weight of a fine powder of silica having particle sizes of from 0.1 to 10 .mu.m, and (3) the rest being a powder composed mostly of cordierite particles and having particle sizes smaller than 0.1 mm, whereby the Na.sub.2 O content in the binder mixture excluding moisture is not higher than 0.3 wt %.

Abstract: A method for operating a filtration apparatus for flue gas, which removes dust from flue gas discharged from a burner using mainly solid fuel, wherein incombustible powder is introduced into the filtration apparatus upon detecting or foreseeing coming of unburnt combustible dust from the burner, or upon detecting or foreseeing a temperature rise of the flue gas, and the incombustible powder is suspended in the dust-containing flue gas to suppress combustion of the combustible dust, or to suppress the temperature rise of the flue gas, in the filtration apparatus.

Abstract: A ceramic filter for a dust-containing gas, which comprises a filter base having an average pore size of from 10 to 100 .mu.m, with the pore size ratio at positions of 75 vol % and 25 vol % of the accumulated pore size distribution being at least 1.3, and a filter layer having an average pore size of from 0.2 to 10 .mu.m fixed at least to the filtering side surface of the filter base so that the filter layer fills the pores open on the surface of the filter base.