Abstract: Objects of the present invention are to provide a phosphoric acid-esterified fine cellulose fiber of which slurry shows superior transparency, and to provide a method for producing a phosphorylated fine cellulose fiber showing superior transparency with good efficiency and high yield. According to the present invention, there is provided a phosphoric acid-esterified fine cellulose fiber, of which 0.2 mass % aqueous dispersion shows a solution haze of 15% or lower.

Abstract: An object is to provide heat-sealable paper that is excellent in impact resistance and workability. Provided is heat-sealable paper comprising at least one heat-sealable layer on at least one surface of a paper substrate, wherein in the paper substrate, when a tensile energy absorption in a vertical direction as measured in accordance with JIS P 8113:2006 is defined as X1, a tensile energy absorption in a horizontal direction as measured in accordance with JIS P 8113:2006 is defined as Y1, a tensile energy absorption index in a vertical direction as measured in accordance with JIS P 8113:2006 is defined as X2, and a tensile energy absorption index in a horizontal direction as measured in accordance with JIS P 8113:2006 is defined as Y2, a geometric mean of X1 and Y1 is 120 J/m2 or more, a ratio of X1 to Y1 (X1/Y1) is 0.5 or more and 2.0 or less, and a geometric mean of X2 and Y2 is 2.0 J/g or more.

Abstract: Gas barrier laminate that is simple to produce and has excellent water vapor barrier properties and gas barrier properties. Also a gas barrier laminate further excellent in recyclability and heat sealing properties, and a method for producing it. The gas barrier laminate has a water vapor barrier layer and a gas barrier layer in that order on at least one surface of a paper support, wherein the water vapor barrier layer contains a layered inorganic compound, a cationic resin and an anionic binder, the aspect ratio of the layered inorganic compound is 50 or more, the thickness of the layered inorganic compound is 200 nm or less, the content of the layered inorganic compound is 0.1 to 800 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the anionic binder, and the gas barrier layer contains a water-soluble polymer. Method for producing the gas barrier material by coating.

Abstract: Provided is a gas barrier laminate that is simple to produce and has excellent water vapor barrier properties and gas barrier properties. Also provided are a gas barrier laminate further excellent in recyclability and heat sealing properties, and a method for producing it. The gas barrier laminate has a water vapor barrier layer and a gas barrier layer in that order on at least one surface of a paper support, wherein the water vapor barrier layer contains a layered inorganic compound, a cationic resin and an anionic binder, the aspect ratio of the layered inorganic compound is 50 or more, the thickness of the layered inorganic compound is 200 nm or less, the content of the layered inorganic compound is 0.1 to 800 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the anionic binder, and the gas barrier layer contains a water-soluble polymer. The invention is also a method for producing the gas barrier material by coating.

Abstract: Objects of the present invention are to provide a phosphoric acid-esterified fine cellulose fiber of which slurry shows superior transparency, and to provide a method for producing a phosphorylated fine cellulose fiber showing superior transparency with good efficiency and high yield. According to the present invention, there is provided a phosphoric acid-esterified fine cellulose fiber, of which 0.2 mass % aqueous dispersion shows a solution haze of 15% or lower.

Abstract: Objects of the present invention are to provide a phosphoric acid-esterified fine cellulose fiber of which slurry shows superior transparency, and to provide a method for producing a phosphorylated fine cellulose fiber showing superior transparency with good efficiency and high yield. According to the present invention, there is provided a phosphoric acid-esterified fine cellulose fiber, of which 0.2 mass % aqueous dispersion shows a solution haze of 15% or lower.

Abstract: A method of producing a fine fiber, including treating a cellulose raw material with an enzyme; and fibrillating the treated cellulose raw material; treating with the enzyme under a condition where at least a ratio of endo-glucanase activity to cellobiohydrolase activity that is 0.06 or greater. The cellulose raw material may be a plant fiber. The method efficiently produces a fine fiber from a cellulose raw material at low cost and with a low environmental burden, a fine fiber, and a non-woven fabric.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rubber modifier capable of exhibiting good dispersibility in a dispersion thereof and excellent in a rubber-modifying effect such as rubber-reinforcing effect or the likes. The invention relates to a rubber modifier comprising cellulose fibers, in which the number of the cellulose fibers having a fiber length of 450 nm or less, relative to the number of all the cellulose fibers therein, is 50% or more, to a rubber modifier dispersion comprising the rubber modifier and a dispersion medium, and to a rubber composition comprising the rubber modifier and a rubber component.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing fine fibers and a sheet containing fine fibers, whereby fiber refinement (fibrillating) of a fiber material is facilitated, freeness and dehydration performance of slurry containing fine fibers obtained after fiber refinement (fibrillating) is favorable and resistance to yellowing of the fine fibers is improved. The present invention provides a method for producing fine fibers, comprising at least the steps of: (a) introducing electrostatic and/or steric functional substituents into a fiber material to obtain substituent-introduced fibers; (b) subjecting the substituent-introduced fibers to mechanical treatment; and (c) eliminating some or all of introduced substituents from the substituent-introduced fine fibers obtained in step (b) to obtain fine fibers from which substituents have been eliminated.

Abstract: Provided are a rubber composition provided with excellent reinforcement properties by improving the dispersibility of fibers in a rubber component when the fibers are added to the rubber, a method for manufacturing the same, a vulcanized rubber, and a tire. A rubber composition comprising a rubber component and short fibers, wherein the short fibers are cationized. A method for manufacturing the rubber composition, comprising a mixing step for mixing cationized short fibers and rubber latex to prepare a rubber-short fiber mixed solution, and a drying step for drying the rubber-short fiber mixed solution to give a rubber composition.

Abstract: Objects of the present invention are to provide a phosphoric acid-esterified fine cellulose fiber of which slurry shows superior transparency, and to provide a method for producing a phosphorylated fine cellulose fiber showing superior transparency with good efficiency and high yield. According to the present invention, there is provided a phosphoric acid-esterified fine cellulose fiber, of which 0.2 mass % aqueous dispersion shows a solution haze of 15% or lower.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cellulose fibers wherein a part of the hydroxyl groups of the cellulose have been substituted with at least one of a carboxy group and formyl group of 0.1 mmol/g or larger based on the weight of the cellulose fibers, and have been further substituted with a chemical modification group other than the carboxy and formyl groups.

Abstract: Provided are a rubber composition provided with excellent reinforcement properties by improving the dispersibility of fibers in a rubber component when the fibers are added to the rubber, a method for manufacturing the same, a vulcanized rubber, and a tire. A rubber composition comprising a rubber component and short fibers, wherein the short fibers are cationized. A method for manufacturing the rubber composition, comprising a mixing step for mixing cationized short fibers and rubber latex to prepare a rubber-short fiber mixed solution, and a drying step for drying the rubber-short fiber mixed solution to give a rubber composition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rubber modifier capable of exhibiting good dispersibility in a dispersion thereof and excellent in a rubber-modifying effect such as rubber-reinforcing effect or the likes. The invention relates to a rubber modifier comprising cellulose fibers, in which the number of the cellulose fibers having a fiber length of 450 nm or less, relative to the number of all the cellulose fibers therein, is 50% or more, to a rubber modifier dispersion comprising the rubber modifier and a dispersion medium, and to a rubber composition comprising the rubber modifier and a rubber component.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing fine fibers and a sheet containing fine fibers, whereby fiber refinement (fibrillating) of a fiber material is facilitated, freeness and dehydration performance of slurry containing fine fibers obtained after fiber refinement (fibrillating) is favorable and resistance to yellowing of the fine fibers is improved. The present invention provides a method for producing fine fibers, comprising at least the steps of: (a) introducing electrostatic and/or steric functional substituents into a fiber material to obtain substituent-introduced fibers; (b) subjecting the substituent-introduced fibers to mechanical treatment; and (c) eliminating some or all of introduced substituents from the substituent-introduced fine fibers obtained in step (b) to obtain fine fibers from which substituents have been eliminated.

Abstract: A method of producing a finely fibrous cellulose composite prepreg sheet, sheet or laminate sheet, the method including a mixing an emulsion of a reactive compound with an aqueous suspension containing a finely fibrous cellulose to prepare a mixed liquid dewatering the mixed liquid by filtration on a porous substrate to form a water-containing sheet; and heating and drying the water-containing sheet. A method of producing a finely fibrous cellulose composite sheet, the method including subjecting the finely fibrous cellulose composite prepreg sheet produced by the method described above to a curing treatment.

Abstract: A method of producing a fine fiber, including treating a cellulose raw material with an enzyme; and fibrillating the treated cellulose raw material; treating with the enzyme under a condition where at least a ratio of endo-glucanase activity to cellobiohydrolase activity that is 0.06 or greater. The cellulose raw material may be a plant fiber. The method efficiently produces a fine fiber from a cellulose raw material at low cost and with a low environmental burden, a fine fiber, and a non-woven fabric.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a cellulose fiber assembly and a cellulose fiber composite, each having low coloration. The present invention is directed to a method for preparing a fibrillated cellulose fiber assembly, in which the cellulose fiber raw materials are subjected to a fibrillation treatment and a reduction treatment. The present invention provides a method for preparing a cellulose fiber assembly, comprising a fibrillation step of fibrillating cellulose fiber raw materials to obtain fibrillated cellulose fibers, an assembly preparation step of obtaining a cellulose fiber assembly using the fibrillated cellulose fibers, and a step of carrying out a reduction treatment. Further, the present invention provides a cellulose fiber composite comprising the prepared cellulose fiber assembly and a matrix material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for easily and efficiently manufacturing microfibrous cellulose composite sheets. The present invention is a method for manufacturing microfibrous cellulose composite sheets, including a preparation process in which a polymer emulsion is mixed with an aqueous suspension including microfibrous cellulose, thereby preparing a mixed fluid, a papermaking process in which the mixed fluid is dehydrated on a porous base material through filtration, and a sheet including moisture is formed, and a drying process in which the sheet including moisture is heated and dried. In addition, the present invention is a method for manufacturing a microfibrous cellulose composite sheet laminate, in which the microfibrous cellulose sheets are thermally compressed and thus laminated as they are or after being provided with a polymer layer on at least one surface thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cellulose fibers wherein a part of the hydroxyl groups of the cellulose have been substituted with at least one of a carboxy group and formyl group of 0.1 mmol/g or larger based on the weight of the cellulose fibers, and have been further substituted with a chemical modification group other than the carboxy and formyl groups.