Abstract: The invention provides a gold-supporting catalyst comprising gold nanoparticles and a carrier consisting of porous ceramic obtained by firing a mixture comprising an aluminum compound, a lime component, and a plastic clay containing 1% by mass or less of feldspars and quartz, wherein the gold nanoparticles are supported in an amount of 0.01 to 10 parts by mass on the carrier based on 100 parts by mass of the carrier.

Abstract: The invention provides a gold-supporting catalyst comprising gold nanoparticles and a carrier consisting of porous ceramic obtained by firing a mixture comprising an aluminum compound, a lime component, and a plastic clay containing 1% by mass or less of feldspars and quartz, wherein the gold nanoparticles are supported in an amount of 0.01 to 10 parts by mass on the carrier based on 100 parts by mass of the carrier.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing fine flaky alumina particles which are suitable as a raw material for ceramics, a pigment for paint, etc., wherein aluminum hydroxide or alumina hydrate having a particle size regulated to the order of submicron is subjected to a hydrothermal treatment in water or an aqueous alkali solution at a temperature of 350.degree. C. or above and under a pressure of 200 kg/cm.sup.2 or below. The present invention further provides an alumina-based plastic material which is produced by kneading the aforesaid fine flaky particles with an organic water holding material and water. Methylcellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, carboxymethylcellulose, polyethylene glycol, etc. are preferably used as the organic water holding agent. The alumina-based plastic material has a high plasticity, so that there is no need of using a large amount of a binder. Thus a dense molded article having stable properties can be prepared.

Abstract: A heat-resistant inorganic pigment of the present invention comprises a composite metal oxide containing Ti and two divalent metals selected from the group consisting of Mg, Fe, Ni and Co, the content of said two divalent metals in said composite metal oxide being 0.95 to 1.05, in an atomic ratio, based on Ti, and the composition ratio of said two divalent metals being 95/5 to 5/95 in an atomic ratio. The pigment of the present invention is useful as a pigment for a heat-resistant coating material and is a novel heat-resistant inorganic pigment which does not pollute the environment.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing fine flaky alumina particles suitable as a raw material for ceramics, a pigment for paint and etc., wherein aluminum hydroxide or alumina hydrate having a particle size regulated to the order of submicron is subjected to a hydrothermal treatment in water or an aqueous alkali solution at a temperature of 350.degree. C. or above under a pressure of 200 kg/cm.sup.2 or below. The present invention further provides an alumina-based plastic material which is produced by kneading the aforesaid fine flaky particles with an organic water holding material and water. Methylcellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, carboxymethylcellulose, polyethylene glycol, etc. are preferably used as the organic water holding agent. The alumina-based plastic material has a high plasticity, so that there is no need of using a large amount of a binder. Thus a dense molded article having stable properties can be prepared.

Abstract: Software and hardware such as part feeding and assembling devices constituting a production system are simplified with the use of a plurality of processing and assembly integrated units in which processing and assembling of parts are coupled and integrated in accordance with products to be produced. The necessities for an automatic warehouse and an automated ground vehicle are eliminated by getting rid of futility of mere movements of the parts. A fundamental idea is that a production system is constructed of units in which three sections--a section for processing a raw material, a check functional section and an assembling section--are integrally combined in accordance with the products to be produced. The parts are processed, checked and assembled by single units just in time while targeting molded parts of plastic and pressed parts.