Abstract: A PTC element comprising a conductive sheet of a crystalline polyolefin matrix and a conductive filler, having provided on both sides thereof an electrode of a metallic foil, the PTC element having a resistivity at 20.degree. C. (.rho..sub.20) of not more than 1.8 .OMEGA..multidot.cm, a peak resistivity (.rho..sub.p) of not less than 2.0.times.10.sup.6 .OMEGA..multidot.cm, and a temperature difference ?T.sub.a (0.degree.C.)-T.sub.b (.degree.C.)! of not greater than 10.degree. C., wherein T.sub.a (.degree.C.) is a temperature at which the resistivity is 10.sup.6 times the resistivity at 20.degree. C. (.rho..sub.20) and T.sub.b (.degree.C.) is a temperature at which the resistivity is 10 times the resistivity at 20.degree. C. (.rho..sub.20).

Abstract: The present invention provides a fiber-reinforced porous plastic tube which is essentially composed with fibers having a high tensile modulus such as glass fibers and a matrix resin such as polyethylene, and has continuous pores, and excellent mechanical strength. This porous tube is useful for structural materials in a building and/or construction, filters, diffusing tubes, drain materials and the like.

Abstract: This invention provides a poly(amic acid) solution which does not contain aprotic polar solvents such as DMF, NMP, DMAc, DMSO, as well as a polyimide film obtained therefrom having appropriate flexibility and a small coefficient of linear thermal expansion and a coated material in which the polyimide film is formed on a substrate.More particularly, it provides a poly(amic acid) solution which has an aromatic poly(amic acid) and a tertiary amine as the solute and a water soluble alcohol compound and/or a water soluble ether compound as the solvent and contains substantially no aprotic polar solvent, as well as a polyimide film obtained from the poly(amic acid) solution and a coated material obtained by forming the film on a substrate.

Abstract: A slurry containing a precursor fiber convertible to carbon fiber and/or a carbon fiber and, based on 100 parts by weight of the fiber, 10 to 300 parts by weight of a thermosetting resin, e.g. phenol resin, is processed into a random web. This web may contain a pitch or an organic granular material. The web is hot-pressed between a pair of belts while curing of the resin is inhibited to prepare a prepreg sheet. This sheet is disposed, leaving a clearance, in a mold having ribs on a molding surface and heated over the melting point of the resin for expansion and complete cure to provide a porous composite sheet equipped with grooves. This porous composite sheet is carbonized or graphitized to produce a porous carbonaceous material for use as a fuel cell electrode material and so on. This porous carbonaceous material has high homogeneity, gas permeability, electrical conductivity, heat conductivity and mechanical strength.

Abstract: A film forming solution which does not require aprotic polar solvents, a porous film of poly(4,4'-oxydiphenylenepyromellitimide) obtained from the film forming solution which has excellent heat and chemical resistances, which is controllable in terms of porosity and pore size of the film and which has excellent electrical characteristics, and a coated material where the porous film is formed on a base material.Particularly, a film forming solution of a precursor of poly(4,4'-oxydiphenylenepyromellitimide) and a mixture of at least three solvents which are poor solvents for the precursor when each solvent is used alone, a porous film of poly(4,4'-oxydiphenylenepyromellitimide) obtained from the film forming solution and a coated material where the porous film is formed on a base material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high molecular weight aliphatic polyester which is biodegradable by microorganisms in soils and which is utilized as a molded article as well as a method to prepare the same. This polyester has a structure shown below: ##STR1## as well as those analogous thereto.