Abstract: Flaky alumina particles including mullite in a surface layer of the flaky alumina particles. A method for producing flaky alumina particles including forming a mixture by mixing together an aluminum compound that contains elemental aluminum, a molybdenum compound that contains elemental molybdenum, and silicon or a silicon compound that contains elemental silicon, the aluminum compound being in an amount greater than or equal to 50 mass %, calculated as Al2O3, the molybdenum compound being in an amount less than or equal to 40 mass %, calculated as MoO3, the silicon or the silicon compound being in an amount of 0.5 mass % or greater and less than 10 mass %, calculated as SiO2, relative to a total mass of the flaky alumina particles taken as 100 mass %; and firing the mixture.

Abstract: To provide plate-like alumina particles that are less likely to wear apparatuses. Plate-like alumina particles containing germanium or a germanium compound. The plate-like alumina particles preferably have a molar ratio of Ge to Al, [Ge]/[Al], of 0.08 or more as determined in an XPS analysis. The plate-like alumina particles preferably contain the germanium or germanium compound in a surface layer. The plate-like alumina particles preferably have a density of 3.7 g/cm3 or more and 4.1 g/cm3 or less. The plate-like alumina particles preferably have a molar ratio of Ge to Al, [Ge]/[Al], of 0.08 or less as determined in an XRF analysis.

Abstract: The present invention provides alumina particles having a fixed card-house structure formed of three or more flat plate-like alumina particles and having an average particle diameter of 3 to 1000 ?m. Also, there is provided alumina particles having an average particle diameter of 3 to 1000 ?m and having a fixed card-house structure in which the three or more flat plate-like alumina are aggregated to be crossed each other at two or more plurality of positions, and the plane directions of the flat plates crossed each other are in a state of disordered arrangement.

Abstract: Plate-like alumina particles have an aspect ratio of 5 to 500, in which in solid-state 27Al NMR analysis, the longitudinal relaxation time T1 for a peak of six-coordinated aluminum at 10 to 30 ppm is 5 seconds or more at a static magnetic field strength of 14.1 T.

Abstract: To provide plate-like alumina particles that are less likely to wear apparatuses. Plate-like alumina particles containing germanium or a germanium compound. The plate-like alumina particles preferably have a molar ratio of Ge to Al, [Ge]/[Al], of 0.08 or more as determined in an XPS analysis. The plate-like alumina particles preferably contain the germanium or germanium compound in a surface layer. The plate-like alumina particles preferably have a density of 3.7 g/cm3 or more and 4.1 g/cm3 or less. The plate-like alumina particles preferably have a molar ratio of Ge to Al, [Ge]/[Al], of 0.08 or less as determined in an XRF analysis.

Abstract: Flaky alumina particles including mullite in a surface layer of the flaky alumina particles. A method for producing flaky alumina particles including forming a mixture by mixing together an aluminum compound that contains elemental aluminum, a molybdenum compound that contains elemental molybdenum, and silicon or a silicon compound that contains elemental silicon, the aluminum compound being in an amount greater than or equal to 50 mass %, calculated as Al2O3, the molybdenum compound being in an amount less than or equal to 40 mass %, calculated as MoO3, the silicon or the silicon compound being in an amount of 0.5 mass % or greater and less than 10 mass %, calculated as SiO2, relative to a total mass of the flaky alumina particles taken as 100 mass %; and firing the mixture.

Abstract: The known electrolytic plating method is disadvantageous in that it is difficult to form thin pillars without being influenced by undercuts. The electroless plating method is disadvantageous in that it is difficult to form pillars in the same shape without voids. As a solution to these, the electrically conductive paste according to the present invention for forming pillars is used to make pillars by filling. This helps prevent undercuts, and it is also intended to provide metal pillars in the same shape with good reproducibility. The inventors found that an electrically conductive paste that is very small fine metal particles and contains a particular percentage of fine metal particles is extraordinarily advantageous in forming pillars.

Abstract: An object to be achieved by the present invention is to provide a bonding element in which copper fine particles are used as a bonding element of a semiconductor device component and a crack, peeling, or the like is not caused in a semiconductor device during an operation under a high-temperature condition of 200° C. or higher. The object is achieved by providing a copper fine particle sintered body for bonding a semiconductor device component, in which when a Vickers hardness of the copper fine particle sintered body at 150° C. is set as Hvb and a Vickers hardness of the same copper fine particle sintered body at 25° C. is set as Hva, a value of (Hvb/Hva)×100 (%) is 5% or more and 20% or less.

Abstract: The present invention provides alumina particles having a fixed card-house structure formed of three or more flat plate-like alumina particles and having an average particle diameter of 3 to 1000 ?m. Also, there is provided alumina particles having an average particle diameter of 3 to 1000 ?m and having a fixed card-house structure in which the three or more flat plate-like alumina are aggregated to be crossed each other at two or more plurality of positions, and the plane directions of the flat plates crossed each other are in a state of disordered arrangement.

Abstract: A problem is to provide a silver paste which can produce, without variation in resistivity value, a conductive silver coating film exhibiting resistivity substantially equivalent to the resistance value of bulk silver in low-temperature sintering. The problem is solved by providing a silver paste including a silver nanoparticle aqueous dispersion prepared by using a compound having a polyethyleneimine skeleton as a protective agent, a compound having a functional group reactable with nitrogen atoms in the polyethyleneimine, and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a compound having an amine functional group and a compound having an amide functional group.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a first magnet assembly, magnets each including a plating layer on a surface of the magnets are used as a first magnet, a second magnet, and a third magnet. In addition, the first magnet, the second magnet, and the third magnet are disposed in a first direction with same poles facing each other, a frame is brought into contact with the magnets in a second direction, and the frame and the magnets are gripped by a jig. Next, the magnets and the frame are welded to each other. After that, the grip of the jig is released and the jig is separated from the magnets and the frame. Thereafter, an adhesive is applied to the magnets and the frame.

Abstract: A problem is to provide a silver paste which can produce, without variation in resistivity value, a conductive silver coating film exhibiting resistivity substantially equivalent to the resistance value of bulk silver in low-temperature sintering. The problem is solved by providing a silver paste including a silver nanoparticle aqueous dispersion prepared by using a compound having a polyethyleneimine skeleton as a protective agent, a compound having a functional group reactable with nitrogen atoms in the polyethyleneimine, and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a compound having an amine functional group and a compound having an amide functional group.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a catalyst for electroless plating composed of a complex of a compound (X) and metal nanoparticles (Y), wherein the compound (X) is produced by polymerizing a monomer mixture (I) containing a (meth)acrylic acid-based monomer having at least one anionic functional group selected from the group consisting of a carboxyl group, a phosphoric acid group, a phosphorous acid group, a sulfonic acid group, a sulfinic acid group and a sulfenic acid group, and also provides a metal film produced using the catalyst, and a method for producing a metal film using the catalyst.

Abstract: Provided is a phthalocyanine compound which is halogen-free and which has a green hue, excellent resistance to organic solvents and acids, and high chroma. Also provided are a metal-free phthalocyanine compound or a metal phthalocyanine compound represented by specified general formula (1-1) or (1-2) and having a N,N?-disubstituted imidazolone structure or piperazinedione structure introduced therein, and a coloring composition including the compound and a synthetic resin. The phthalocyanine compound of the present invention exhibits a clear green color and is halogen-free, and is thus useful as a clear green pigment for coloring materials such as a coating material, plastic, a printing ink, rubber, leather, textile printing, a color filter, a jet ink, a heat transfer ink, etc.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an execution period specifying unit, a first calculation unit, and a second calculation unit. The execution period specifying unit specifies an execution period of each of plural image processing operations executed by plural image processing apparatuses within a given period of time in the past. The first calculation unit calculates an amount of power estimated to be consumed by a replaceable image processing apparatus executing the plural image processing operations if it is assumed that the plural image processing apparatuses have been replaced by the replaceable image processing apparatus within the given period of time. The second calculation unit calculates a total amount of power estimated to be consumed by the replaceable image processing apparatus if it is assumed that the plural image processing apparatuses have been replaced by the replaceable image processing apparatus within the given period of time.

Abstract: Provided is a composite including copper nanoparticles or copper(I) oxide nanoparticles and a thioether-containing organic compound represented by X(OCH2CHR1)nOCH2CH(OH)CH2SZ [X represents an alkyl group; R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; n represents an integer of 2 to 100; R1 is independent between repeating units and may be the same or different; and Z represents an alkyl group, an allyl group, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group, —R2—OH, —R2—NHR3, or —R2—(COR4)m (where R2 represents a saturated hydrocarbon group; R3 represents a hydrogen atom, an acyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, or a benzyloxycarbonyl group; R4 represents a hydroxy group, an alkyl group, or an alkoxy group; and m represents 1 to 3)].

Abstract: Provided is a composite including copper nanoparticles or copper(I) oxide nanoparticles and a thioether-containing organic compound represented by X(OCH2CHR1)nOCH2CH(OH)CH2SZ [X represents an alkyl group; R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; n represents an integer of 2 to 100; R1 is independent between repeating units and may be the same or different; and Z represents an alkyl group, an allyl group, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group, —R2—OH, —R2—NHR3, or —R2—(COR4)m (where R2 represents a saturated hydrocarbon group; R3 represents a hydrogen atom, an acyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, or a benzyloxycarbonyl group; R4 represents a hydroxy group, an alkyl group, or an alkoxy group; and m represents 1 to 3)].

Abstract: Provided are a composite of nanoparticles of a metal such as gold, silver, a platinum metal, or copper, and a polymer, the composite allowing formation of a metal film having a sufficiently low resistivity in terms of practicality simply by drying at room temperature without requiring any special heating-baking step or any step of removing a protective agent with a solvent; a dispersion liquid of the composite; methods for producing the foregoing; and a plastic substrate formed from the dispersion liquid. The composite comprises a (meth)acrylic-based copolymer having, as side chains, a polyethylene glycol chain and a phosphate residue represented by —OP(O)(OH)2 and having, at at least one end of the molecular chain, —SR (where R represents an alkyl group or the like).

Abstract: Provided are a composite of nanoparticles of a metal such as gold, silver, a platinum metal, or copper, and a polymer, the composite allowing formation of a metal film having a sufficiently low resistivity in terms of practicality simply by drying at room temperature without requiring any special heating-baking step or any step of removing a protective agent with a solvent; a dispersion liquid of the composite; methods for producing the foregoing; and a plastic substrate formed from the dispersion liquid. When a dispersion liquid of a metal-nanoparticle-containing composite that is prepared by reducing metal ions in an aqueous medium in the presence of a (meth)acrylic-based copolymer having, as side chains, a polyethylene glycol chain and a phosphate residue represented by —OP(O)(OH)2 and having, at at least one end of the molecular chain, —SR (where R represents an alkyl group or the like), is applied to a base material and is then just dried at room temperature, a film having conductivity is formed.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an execution period specifying unit, a first calculation unit, and a second calculation unit. The execution period specifying unit specifies an execution period of each of plural image processing operations executed by plural image processing apparatuses within a given period of time in the past. The first calculation unit calculates an amount of power estimated to be consumed by a replaceable image processing apparatus executing the plural image processing operations if it is assumed that the plural image processing apparatuses have been replaced by the replaceable image processing apparatus within the given period of time. The second calculation unit calculates a total amount of power estimated to be consumed by the replaceable image processing apparatus if it is assumed that the plural image processing apparatuses have been replaced by the replaceable image processing apparatus within the given period of time.