Abstract: A solar cell includes a photoelectric conversion substrate having a first surface that includes a texture structure, a coating layer provided on the first surface and having an opening exposing the first surface, and an electrode in the opening. The unevenness of the surface of the coating layer has a larger height difference than a height difference of the texture structure of the first surface.

Abstract: A sample transfer system includes a sample-mounting member mounting a sample thereonto, and a sample-moving device lifting the sample to move the sample between the sample-mounting member and another location. The sample-mounting member includes a first predetermined sample-mounting region mounting the sample, and a recessed part on or around a side of the first predetermined sample-mounting region. The sample-moving device includes a first sample-holding device, the first sample-holding device including a sample-holding surface facing the sample to be lifted, a first contact member contacting with part of the sample, and a movement mechanism moving the first contact member in a direction along the sample-holding surface. Part of the contact member enters the recessed part when the first sample-holding device is brought ill proximity to the first predetermined sample-mounting region, the part of the contact member moving within the recessed part by operating the movement mechanism.

Abstract: A sample transfer system includes a sample-mounting member mounting a sample thereonto; and a sample-moving device lifting the sample to move the sample between the sample-mounting member and another location, wherein the sample-mounting member comprises: a first predetermined sample-mounting region mounting the sample; and a recessed part on or around a side of the first predetermined sample-mounting region, wherein the sample-moving device comprises a first sample-holding device, the first sample-holding device comprising: a sample-holding surface facing the sample to be lifted; a first contact member contacting with part of the sample; and a movement mechanism moving the first contact member in a direction along the sample-holding surface, and wherein part of the contact member enters the recessed part when the first sample-holding device is brought in proximity to the first predetermined sample-mounting region, the part of the contact member moving within the recessed part by operating the movement mechan

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an inmold foaming method of a polyolefin based resin foamed article, wherein a pre-foamed particle having a large bulk density, which could be molded only by an impregnation method based on conventional technology having defect of expensive plant-and-equipment investment expense, may be molded using a compression filling molding method advantageous in productivity and plant-and-equipment investment expense, and thereby a charging ratio and surface appearance of the foamed article to be obtained may also be improved.

Abstract: Pre-expanded particles of polyolefin resin having less fluctuation in expansion ratio, uniform particle size and low expansion ratio are provided without using any volatile foaming agent. The low expansion ratio means 2 to 10 times, preferably 3 to 8 times. Resin particles to be released are uniformly contacted with saturated vapor at the time of pre-expanding polyolefin resin particles by dispersing the resin particles into an aqueous dispersion medium in a closed vessel, heating the resin particles to temperature of at least the softening point of the polyolefin resin and releasing the particles from the closed vessel into an atmosphere of lower pressure than the inner pressure of the closed vessel.

Abstract: To provide a process for preparing polyolefin resin pre-expanded particles which enables to prepare pre-expanded particles having lower fluctuation in expansion ratios. Polyolefin resin pre-expanded particles are prepared by a process comprising steps of dispersing polyolefin resin particles into an aqueous dispersion medium in an autoclave; heating the resin particles to temperature of at least the softening point of the polyolefin resin and pressuring the same; releasing said resin particles from the autoclave through a release port into an atmosphere of lower pressure than the inner pressure of the autoclave; thereby pre-expanding the resin particles, wherein at the releasing step, the resulting pre-expanded particles are contacted with gas of at least 60° C. and collided with a collision board or a container wall disposed at a distance of 5 mm<D, D representing the distance from the release port to the collision board or the container wall.

Abstract: A process for preparing pre-expanded particles of a thermoplastic resin without washing the prepared pre-expanded particles to remove a dispersing agent remaining thereon and without discharging waste water, which comprises charging particles of a thermoplastic resin and an aqueous dispersion medium containing a dispersing agent into a closed pressure vessel, heating the resulting aqueous dispersion to a temperature of not less than the softening point of the thermoplastic resin, thereby impregnating the particles with water to have a water content of 1 to 50% by weight, releasing the dispersion into a lower pressure atmosphere, thereby expanding the particles, recovering the dispersion medium containing the dispersing agent, and recycling it as a dispersion medium to the pressure vessel.

Abstract: To provide a process for preparing polyolefin resin pre-expanded particles which enables to prepare pre-expanded particles having lower fluctuation in expansion ratios. Polyolefin resin pre-expanded particles are prepared by a process comprising steps of dispersing polyolefin resin particles into an aqueous dispersion medium in an autoclave; heating the resin particles to temperature of at least the softening point of the polyolefin resin and pressuring the same; releasing said resin particles from the autoclave through a release port into an atmosphere of lower pressure than the inner pressure of the autoclave; thereby pre-expanding the resin particles, wherein at the releasing step, the resulting pre-expanded particles are contacted with gas of at least 60° C. and collided with a collision board or a container wall disposed at a distance of 5 mm<D, D representing the distance from the release port to the collision board or the container wall.

Abstract: Pre-expanded particles of polyolefin resin having less fluctuation in expansion ratio, uniform particle size and low expansion ratio are provided without using any volatile foaming agent. The low expansion ratio means 2 to 10 times, preferably 3 to 8 times. Resin particles to be released are uniformly contacted with saturated vapor at the time of pre-expanding polyolefin resin particles by dispersing the resin particles into an aqueous dispersion medium in a closed vessel, heating the resin particles to temperature of at least the softening point of the polyolefin resin and releasing the particles from the closed vessel into an atmosphere of lower pressure than the inner pressure of the closed vessel.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an in-mold foaming article of a propylene resin composition having improved productivity and stable quality in internal molding, and simultaneously a compressive strength and a tensile strength thereof at high density range are improved at the same time. The in-mold foaming article is obtained by using a pre-foamed particle having a density of 90 to 300 g/L and an open cell ratio of at most 12%, wherein the pre-foamed particle comprises a resin composition having (A) 100 parts by weight of a polypropylene resin and (B) 0.01 to 20 parts by weight of a hydrophilic polymer as a base material resin, and water as a foaming agent, the pre-foamed particle having at least two endothermic peaks in a DSC curve obtained in differential scanning calorimetry.

Abstract: There is provided pre-expanded particles of a propylene resin having a high expansion ratio and excellent molding adhesion without using a volatile blowing agent or increasing an expansion pressure. The pre-expanded particles of a propylene resin are prepared by the process comprising dispersing resin particles comprising a propylene resin composition, which contains 100 parts by weight of (A) a random copolymer of ethylene and propylene having an ethylene content of 1.5 to 4.5% by weight and 0.

Abstract: There is provided pre-expanded particles of a propylene resin having a high expansion ratio and excellent molding adhesion without using a volatile blowing agent or increasing an expansion pressure. The pre-expanded particles of a propylene resin are prepared by the process comprising dispersing resin particles comprising a propylene resin composition, which contains 100 parts by weight of (A) a random copolymer of ethylene and propylene having an ethylene content of 1.5 to 4.5% by weight and 0.