Abstract: The steel of the present invention satisfies the following requirement for non-metallic inclusion area: when the steel is melted by an electron beam under the conditions of an irradiation rate of 200 to 600 J/sec., an irradeation time of 10 to 25 seconds, and an irradeation energy of 5000 J or more, the area of non-metallic inclusions existing in the surface of the sample after solidification falls within 15,000 &mgr;m2 or less. The steel exhibits excellent cold workability and fatigue properties.

Abstract: The steel wire rod contains oxides which comprises, on the weight % basis, SiO2, 70% or more; CaO+Al2O3, less than 20%; and ZrO2, 0.1 to 10% in the average composition of oxides of 2 &mgr;m or more in width on a longitudinal section thereof. This wire rod is excellent in cold workability such as drawability, and steel wires which have high fatigue strength can be produced from this wire rod as stock steel.

Abstract: A water-insoluble black pigment produced by reacting C. I. Solubilized Sulphur Black 1 with a salt-forming agent selected from the group consisting of inorganic acid salts of alkylamine, alkoxyalkylamine, alkanolamine, carboxyalkylamine, alkylcarboxamide, allylamine, amide of unsaturated carboxylic acid, cyclic amine, cycloalkylamine, oxacycloalkylamine, morpholine derivative, arylamine, aralkylamine, pyridine derivative, quinoline, phthalimide, DL-.alpha.-amino-.epsilon.-caprolactam and .epsilon.-aminocaprolactam, and ammonium salt of the formula (1): ##STR1## wherein A.sub.1, A.sub.2, A.sub.3 and A.sub.4 each represent an alkyl or phenyl group and X- represents an anionic group.The water-insoluble black pigment is usable as a colorant for printing ink, ink for jet printers, dot printer ribbon, and melt-transfer type printer, a charge-regulator for toner used on electrostatic recording system, a laser marking agent, a colorant for resin, an infrared absorber and the like.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive recording sheet comprising:(a) a support sheet;(b) a thermo-sensitive color forming layer formed on the said support sheet, said thermo-sensitive color forming layer comprising a colorless to pale color leuco dye and an acidic material capable of coloring the colorless to pale color leuco dye when heat is applied thereto;(c) an over-coat layer formed on the said heat-sensitive, color-forming layer, said over-coat layer comprising an inorganic silicate or a mixture of an inorganic silicate and a water-soluble, high-molecular compound or a slightly water-soluble high-molecular compound.The said heat-sensitive recording sheet has a reduced property of sticking of coatings and/or dreg to a thermal head during recording and gives a developed image which is not faded by contact with plasticizer, oil, fat or water.