Abstract: The present invention provides an inorganic-organic hybrid material having both the characteristics of the inorganic material and the characteristics of the organic material. The material has a lamellar structure formed by piling a sheet of silicon tetrahedrons upon a sheet of titanium octahedrons. In this lamellar structure, an organic group is bonded to a center atom of a tetrahedron via a covalent bond. The organic group can be polymerized to make the organic phyllotitanosilicate a tough and hard coating material. The hybrid material of the present invention thus has both the characteristics, such as high hardness and heat resistance, of the constitutive inorganic material and the characteristics, such as flexibility and filmability at room temperature, of the constitutive organic material, and further has an excellent UV-blocking property.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a silica porous material with high solid acidity, catalytic activity and adsorption ability as well as excellent crystallinity and heat resistance has the steps of adding a compound of metallic element such as Al to a waterglass, aging the resultant mixture, calcining the aged mixture to form a layered crystal, incorporating an organic substance between layers of the layered crystal, calcining the resultant layered crystal for crosslinking the layered crystal. By this process, a plurality of layers formed of SiO.sub.4 tetrahedral and metallic oxide constitute a silica porous material, and the gap between adjacent layers of the layered crystal is reduced at a crosslinking site, while the gap of the other portion is expanded to form a micro pore.

Abstract: A porous material composed of many SiO.sub.4 tetrahedra sheets having interlayer bridges of SiO.sub.2. It has pores having a diameter of 10 .ANG. or above, and possesses the properties of a solid acid formed by the isomorphous substitution of metal atoms for Si of SiO.sub.4 frameworks. It is made by a process including introducing an organic substance into interlayer space of crystals of layered silicates to expand the spacing between crystal layers, as well as forming bridges of SiO.sub.2 therebetween, bringing the intercalated compounds into contact with a metal salt to link metal atoms to the SiO.sub.4 frameworks, and firing the products. The material can withstand a temperature of 800.degree. C., has a pore diameter larger than that of zeolites, etc., and is useful in making an adsorbent or catalyst for molecules having a high molecular weight, such as a catalyst for the catalytic cracking of petroleum.

Abstract: A hybrid material includes a layer containing an octahedral sheet comprising octahedra linked with each other to provide a sheet-like structure and a tetrahedral sheet comprising tetrahedra linked with each other to provide a sheet-like structure; and an organic portion bonded by covalent bond to an element located at the tetrahedral site of the tetrahedra constituting the layer; each of the octahedra having an element at the octahedral site thereof with a valence in the range of from 3.5 to 4.5 on average over the entire octahedral sheet, and each of the tetrahedra having an element at the tetrahedral site thereof with a valence in the range of from 4.5 to 5.5 on average over the entire tetrahedral sheet. A process for fabricating the hybrid material and a process for controlling the content of the organic and inorganic components of the hybrid material are also provided. Any type of organic component is allowed to be incorporated in the hybrid material.

Abstract: A process for producing a heat-resistant and high-purity porous silicon oxide material having excellent crystallinity and uniformity in pore size. The process includes: a first step of dispersing a substance containing silicon in an aqueous solution of a surfactant and adjusting the pH of the dispersion to a value of 10 or higher; a second step of adjusting the pH thereof to a value lower than 10 and forming a composite of a silicon oxide and a surfactant; and a third step of removing the surfactant from the composite. A water-soluble component is preferably removed from the dispersion between the first and second steps.

Abstract: A layered inorganic-organic polymer having the features of both inorganic and organic materials and a coating material produced therefrom. The former is produced, for example, by reacting an organoalkoxysilane having alkoxyl groups and organic groups with a metal salt or alkoxide in an alkaline solution. This reaction yields a layered inorganic-organic polymer composed of one or two sheets of tetrahedrons with a central atom of Si or a metal and a sheet of octahedrons with a central atom of a metal, part or all of the central atoms of the tetrahedrons being covalently bonded to organic groups. If the organic group is one which contains a functional group capable of polymerization, the resulting layered inorganic-organic polymer may be polymerized with a functional group to give a firm coating material. The functional group of the organic group may be bonded to an organic compound.

Abstract: A porous material composed of many SiO.sub.4 tetrahedra sheets having interlayer bridges of SiO.sub.2. It has pores having a diameter of 10 .ANG. or above, and possesses the properties of a solid acid formed by the isomorphous substitution of metal atoms for Si of SiO.sub.4 frameworks. It is made by a process including introducing an organic substance into interlayer space of crystals of layered silicates to expand the spacing between crystal layers, as well as forming bridges of SiO.sub.2 therebetween, bringing the intercalated compounds into contact with a metal salt to link metal atoms to the SiO.sub.4 frameworks, and firing the products. The material can withstand a temperature of 800.degree. C., has a pore diameter larger than that of zeolites, etc., and is useful in making an adsorbent or catalyst for molecules having a high molecular weight, such as a catalyst for the catalytic cracking of petroleum.

Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying catalyst is characterized in that at least one kind of catalyst metal is loaded on a layered porous silica or a layered porous silica-metal oxide. The exhaust gas purifying catalyst is used as an oxidation catalyst for purifying hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide, or a reduction catalyst for purifying nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.x), which is suitable for purifying exhaust gases in automobiles. An exhaust gas purifying apparatus includes the above exhaust gas purifying catalyst and an absorbent for trapping hydrocarbon components, in which aromatic HC such as trimethylbenzene and the like are effectively trapped.

Abstract: The invention is intended to provide novel solid state displacement elements that have an extent of displacement. The solid state displacement element has an intercalation compound in which a polar compound (B) is mixed with an inorganic layered compound (A), and produces a strain when a voltage is applied.

Abstract: A fuel-sorbing device excellent in sorbing evaporated fuel includes a sorbent of layered porous silica for capturing evaporated fuel and a container which houses the sorbent and into which the evaporated fuel is introduced. The layered porous silica is composed of a plurality of superposed sheets made of a framework of SiO.sub.2. Adjacent sheets are partly bonded each other to form a three-dimensional framework having a large number of pores. The sorbent can be used in combination with an organic polymer sorbent, so as to sorb evaporated fuel in two stages.

Abstract: A heat resistant layered porous silica having a honeycomb porous structure comprises a plurality of waved or bent sheet layers of crystalline layered silicate superposed one after another, and the neighboring sheets are partially bonded by siloxane bonding. The spacing between the neighboring sheet layers is narrowed toward the bonded portions and expanded at other portions to thereby form fine pores. The layered porous silica contains alkali metal ions in an amount of 0.2% by weight or less and has a specific surface area of 1,000 m.sup.2 /g or more.The layered porous silica has a large specific surface area, and exhibits an excellent heat resistance and adsorption of organic substances such as fuel.

Abstract: A process for producing a clay mineral of chain structure such as sepiolite and attapulgite. The process comprises suspending a metal silicate gel in an aqueous solution which has a pH value of 3-11 at room temperature and contains a clay mineral of chain structure suspending therein, and then heating the resulting suspension at a temperature below 350.degree. C. According to this process, it is possible to produce a clay mineral of chain structure in a simple, stable manner.

Abstract: A composite material comprising a resin other than polyamide resin and a layered silicate dispersed therein, said layered silicate having a layer thickness of 7 to 12 .ANG. and an interlayer distance of 30 .ANG. or above. Owing to the layered silicate uniformly dispersed in the resin matrix, the composite material is superior in mechanical characteristics and heat resistance. It also has good water resistance and chemical resistance.

Abstract: Composite material with high mechanical strength and excellent high-temperature characteristics comprising a polymer matrix containing polyamide and layers of a silicate uniformly dispersed in the order of molecules in the polymer matrix, each of said silicate layers being 7 to 12 .ANG. thick and the interlayer distance being at least 20 .ANG.; and a process for manufacturing such composite material.

Abstract: A process for producing a water glass-based material and the inorganic material itself is disclosed. The process involves providing an amount of water glass and causing a solid content of the water glass to react with a coagulant. The reaction is created in one of three possible general ways. Firstly, the water glass and coagulant can be reacted by heating the mixture to a temperature in the range of 80.degree. C. to 600.degree. C. Secondary, the water glass and coagulant can be reacted by providing an alkaline substance in combination with them. Thirdly, the water glass and coagulant can be reacted by providing the coagulant in the form of porous particles which include polyvalent ions capable of coagulating the water glass. All three methods of reacting the coagulant and water glass can include one or more heating steps. The material produced is particularly resistant to heat, water and the combination of heat and water.

Abstract: Inorganic material comprises a mixture of water glass and metakaolin obtained by heat treating a kaolin group clay mineral at 600.degree. to 900.degree. C. This inorganic material, when solidified by drying, exhibits excellent water resistance, and when solidified by heating to a temperature of 80.degree. to 500.degree. C., exhibits excellent water and hot water resistances. The inorganic material may further contain a hydrous magnesium silicate type clay mineral. Such material, when solidified by drying, exhibits further excellent water resistance and when solidified by heating to a temperature of 80.degree. to 500.degree. C., exhibits excellent resistances to water, hot water and boiling water.

Abstract: Heat-insulating cellular glass having a surface on which an adhesive layer and a coating layer are formed. The adhesive layer comprises a solidified mixture of water glass, and a porous substance containing polyvalent ions of metals, such as Ca, Mg, Ba and Al, and the coating layer comprises a laminate of flakes of a laminar mineral. This cellular glass is widely used as a heat-insulating material having an improved thermal shock resistance.

Abstract: A formed product of vermiculite comprising thin leaves of vermiculite containing cations of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of copper, aluminum, manganese, II group elements, IV group elements and VIII group elements, substituted for exchangeable cations retained in vermiculite. Such a formed vermiculite product has high strength as well as excellent heat resistance. The formed product of vermiculite can be obtained by a method comprising the steps of crushing vermiculite to obtain thin leaves thereof, subjecting the thin leaves to ion exchange to substitute exchangeable cations retained therein by cations of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of copper, aluminum, manganese, II group elements, IV group elements and VIII group elements, and forming the resulting thin leaves into a stack or laminate. The formed vermiculite product thus obtained can retain further properties, such as an ability to expand and water resistance.

Abstract: The vermiculite sheet is immersed in a silane compound in liquid state so that the silane compound is permeated into the sheet to react with the water absorbed on the whole surface of each thin leave of vermiculite and to form silanol. Thin leaves of vermiculite are strongly bonded with one another through such silanol to form a strong composite sheet.

Abstract: A composite material is provided by contacting a clay mineral having laminated aluminum silicate layers with an organic monomer to allow the organic monomer to be adsorbed on or intercalated between the aluminum silicate layers, and contacting the clay mineral with a silane compound having 2 to 4 chlorine atoms to promote polymerization of the organic monomer, thereby forming a composite material composed of a clay mineral having organic high polymer adsorbed thereon or intercalated therebetween. The composite material thus obtained has a strong chemical bond between inorganic clay mineral and organic high polymer.