Abstract: A transparent conductive film has a polymer film 4 and a transparent conductive layer 5 formed on the polymer film 4. The transparent conductive layer consists of indium oxide, a zinc oxide system and a tin oxide system. A covering layer 9, made of material different from that of the transparent conductive layer 5, is formed on the transparent conductive layer 5. A touch panel is provided with the transparent conductive film as its upper electrode 6A or lower electrode. The surface of the transparent conductive layer is covered with the covering layer, so that physical or chemical stresses generated during the input to the touch panel do not affect transparent conductive layer directly, thus preventing damages and delamination of the transparent conductive layer. Furthermore, the covering layer formed on the transparent conductive layer improves the strength of the transparent conductive film, thereby enhancing a resistance to wear.

Abstract: A thin film of a metal compound such as metal oxide, nitride and carbide is formed on a substrate by sputtering a target in vacuum in the presence of an inert gas and a reactive gas. From a curve of an input power supplied from a DC supply to the target versus an input voltage between the target and the substrate, a transition point of input power at which an abrupt change of the input voltage occurs is determined. The input power during sputtering is controlled using the transition point as a reference, thereby controlling the composition or physical properties of the thin film. When a cobalt oxide thin film is formed on a substrate in this way, rubber can be vulcanized thereto to form a firm bond.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire which comprises a pair of right and left bead portions, a carcass layer disposed extending between the bead portions, a tread portion arranged at an outside of the carcass layer in a radial direction of the tire, a pair of side wall portions arranged at right and left sides of the tread portion and at least one pair of rubber members selected from a pair of rubber members constituted with a rigid rubber and arranged in the bead portions and a pair of rubber members disposed in the side wall portions, wherein at least one pair of rubber members selected from a pair of rubber members arranged in the bead portions and a pair of rubber members disposed in the side wall portions are constituted with rubber composition having a minimum value of a dynamic storage modulus within a temperature range of 200 to 250° C. which is 75% of a dynamic storage modulus at 50° C. or more.

Abstract: A provided transparent electroconductive film has a polymer film and a transparent electroconductive layer deposited on the polymer film, which has no problem of damages and removal of the transparent electroconductive layer. The transparent electroconductive film has a polymer film 4 and a transparent electroconductive layer 5 deposited on the polymer film 4. A protective layer 9 made of material different from that of the transparent electroconductive layer 5 is formed on the transparent electroconductive layer 5. A touch panel has the transparent electroconductive film as an upper electrode 6A or a lower electrode.

Abstract: A thin film of a metal compound such as metal oxide, nitride and carbide is formed on a substrate by sputtering a target in vacuum in the presence of an inert gas and a reactive gas. From a curve of an input power supplied from a DC supply to the target versus an input voltage between the target and the substrate, a transition point of input power at which an abrupt change of the input voltage occurs is determined. The input power during sputtering is controlled using the transition point as a reference, thereby controlling the composition or physical properties of the thin film. When a cobalt oxide thin film is formed on a substrate in this way, rubber can be vulcanized thereto to form a firm bond.

Abstract: A film deposition apparatus equipped with a vacuum chamber, comprising a pair of rollers for vertically traveling a continuous sheet as a substrate, and a pair of sputtering cathodes for continuously depositing the film on the surfaces of the sheet in the vacuum chamber. The cathodes are vertically arranged and horizontally faced each other. The sheet is traveled between a pair of the cathodes. The apparatus and the film deposition process using it make it possible to deposit a film even on surfaces of a flexible sheet without causing problems such as defective film deposition or abnormal discharge, while ensuring stable, continuous, long-term operation.

Abstract: A transparent electroconductive film has a polymer film, a primary layer formed on the polymer film, and a transparent electroconductive thin film or a multi-lamination film composed of at least one metal-compound layer and at least one electroconductive-metal layer, formed on the primary layer. The primary layer is made of silicon compound. The primary layer is formed by sputtering, using a target having a density of 2.9 g/cm3 or more.

Abstract: A rubber-based composite material is provided, which can enhance the adhesiveness between a non-woven fabric and a rubber. The use of the rubber-based composite material as a reinforcing material for rubber articles such as tires and belts can enhance the durability of the rubber articles and can reduce the weight of the articles. The rubber-based composite material is composed of a non-woven fabric, a coating of a metal or metallic compound reactable with sulfur, and a rubber that adheres to the coating and that covers the non-woven fabric. The coating is formed on a surface of the filaments constituting the non-woven fabric by a physical vapor deposition (PVD) method or a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method.

Abstract: A process for surface treatment of a vulcanized rubber is disclosed, said process comprising: generating a nonequilibrium low-temperature plasma under atmospheric pressure between a cathode and an insulating dielectric which is interposed between the cathode and an anode while introducing a gas for generating plasma to a plasma-generating region between the cathode and the insulating dielectric, placing the vulcanized rubber in air and outside the plasma-generating region so that a surface of the vulcanized rubber faces the plasma-generating region, and directing the gas from the plasma-generating region toward the surface of the vulcanized rubber so that the gas impinges against the rubber surface for effecting surface treatment.

Abstract: A method of cleaning a vulcanizing mold including the steps of providing, independently from a vacuum processing bath, a furnace for generating a plasma flow mainly containing neutral active species by a microwave discharge applied for a reactive gas; introducing the plasma flow in the processing bath and jetting it to the entire residue adhering surface of the mold positioned in the processing bath; and ashing residues by the jetted plasma gas. With this method, uniform ashing can be performed for residues adhering on the surface of a vulcanizing mold, without any adverse effect exerted on the mold.

Abstract: Only an outer surface of an unvulcanized rubber sheet is preliminarily crosslinked by irradiating an infrared ray or a far infrared ray to the unvulcanized rubber sheet prior to subsequent final vulcanization, whereby the occurrence of rubber spew and rubber flash is considerably suppressed at the vulcanization step.

Abstract: A length of sheet material is continuously surface treated, typically modified or coated, by continuously feeding helium gas or a helium gas mixture into a treating chamber while a plasma region is created in the gas under atmospheric pressure, continuously moving a length of sheet material into and out of the chamber through entrance and exit ports to pass through the plasma region, thereby continuously subjecting the sheet at either surface to plasma discharge treatment. The entrance and exit ports are sealed in a less gas tight manner to allow leakage of the helium gas or gas mixture.

Abstract: A surface treating method is described, which method comprising applying, between electrodes, a potential sufficient to cause corona discharge to occur in the presence of a gas which comprises molecules containing at least one atom selected from the group consisting of halogen atom, oxygen atom and nitrogen atom. The resultant corona discharge is applied to an object to be treated for the surface treatment of the object, said object being outside said electrodes. The excellent adhesive surface can be obtained when said object is separated from said electrodes at a distance in the range of 10 mm to 5 m.

Abstract: Tightly integrated composite products are obtained by treating a fluoropolymer member on its surface with atmospheric pressure glow discharge plasma in a helium gas atmosphere containing 97% by volume or more of helium gas, and joining another member of rubber compositions, resins, metals, ceramics, or semiconductors to the surface treated fluoropolymer member. By using a fluoropolymer sheet as the fluoropolymer member and a metal or synthetic resin layer as the other member, there are obtained weather-resistant composite sheets in which the layer is firmly bonded to the fluoropolymer sheet.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for surface treatment which comprises subjecting an object for surface treatment to an atmospheric pressure plasma while rolling or floating said object in an insulating vessel fed with a prescribed gas and provided on the outside thereof or on both the outside and inside thereof with electrodes for voltage application and grounding, said atmospheric pressure plasma occurring upon application of a voltage to said electrodes. This method permits simple, certain, and uniform surface treatment of any objects in the form of lump or sphere. The surface treatment by the atmospheric pressure plasma does not need the apparatus to be evacuated. Therefore, it can be carried out in a simple apparatus without causing the object for surface treatment to release volatile matters.Disclosed also herein is a method for the surface treatment of vulcanized rubber with an atmospheric pressure plasma in the presence of an oxygen-containing gas and halogen containing gases.

Abstract: A method for preparing a rubber-based composite material by joining a base material and a rubber composition together by heat pressure bonding can achieve strong bonding without using any adhesives, wherein a monomer is polymerized by atmospheric-pressure glow discharge plasma technique to form a polymerized film having unsaturated bonds on the surface of the base material and then the rubber composition is bonded to said polymerized film by heat pressure bonding to join the base material and the rubber together.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for producing golf balls which comprises surface-treating a golf ball with atmospheric pressure plasma prior to finish coating. The resulting golf balls have a coating film which is in good adhesion to the golf ball and highly resistant to discoloration and deterioration by heat, moisture, and light. The surface treatment is by the atmospheric pressure plasma which does not need the treating apparatus to be evacuated. The surface treatment under atmospheric pressure requires only a simple treating apparatus and can be applied to any golf balls without evaporating volatile matters contained therein.

Abstract: A method for preparing a rubber-based composite material by joining a base material and a rubber composition together by heat pressure bonding can achieve strong bonding without using any adhesives, wherein a monomer is polymerized by low-pressure glow discharge plasma technique to form a polymerized film having unsaturated bonds on the surface of the base material and then the rubber composition is bonded to said polymerized film by heat pressure bonding to join the base material and the rubber together.

Abstract: A surface treating apparatus which comprises a hollow cylindrical electrode and a counter electrode provided within the hollow cylindrical electrode, and a power supply for applying a potential between the electrode and the counter electrode to cause an atmospheric pressure plasma in the presence of a selected gas to generate within the cylindrical electrode is described. A method is also described, wherein a material to be treated is placed between the electrodes and a potential is applied therebetween to generate the plasma to effect the surface treatment of the material. The method and apparatus are very effective for surface treatment of axially symmetric substrates in the form of bars, tubes or fibers.

Abstract: Plates, sheets, fibers and other articles can be rendered water repellent by subjecting the articles at their surface to a glow discharge plasma under atmospheric pressure. The treating gas is a mixture of an inert gas and a fluorinated compound in the form of a cyclic or unsaturated hydrocarbon having some or all of the hydrogen atoms thereof replaced by halogen groups including fluorine atoms. The surface treatment lowers the surface energy of the articles in a long lasting manner.