Abstract: A water feed device for feeding water to a moistener for moistening envelope flaps, which moistener is incorporated into a mail handling machine, the water feed device including a water tank which is mounted on a support and from which a quantity of water flows through a water feed pipe to a water reservoir in which part of a piece of foam is dipped, the quantity of water serving to impregnate the piece of foam for moistening the envelope flaps as they pass between a top surface of the piece of foam and a moistener brush, the water tank support being tilted at a determined angle ? relative to a horizontal reference plane, and the water tank itself being tilted at a determined angle ? relative to the water tank support.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for fabricating a device, in which a high operation efficiency is maintained in a drying treatment for a multilayer-interconnection device. The device can also be fabricated inexpensively. An apparatus for fabricating a device has an inkjet unit that can dispose a liquid material on a substrate, and a preparatory dryer to blow a gas heated at a predetermined temperature to the substrate.

Abstract: A confinement assembly for a semiconductor processing chamber is provided. The confinement assembly includes a plurality of confinement rings disposed over each other. Each of the plurality of confinement rings are separated by a space and each of the plurality of confinement rings have a plurality of holes defined therein. A plunger extending through aligned holes of corresponding confinement rings is provided. The plunger is moveable in a plane substantially orthogonal to the confinement rings. A proportional adjustment support is affixed to the plunger. The proportional adjustment support is configured to support the confinement rings, such that as the plunger moves in the plane, the space separating each of the plurality of confinement rings is proportionally adjusted. In one embodiment the proportional adjustment support is a bellows sleeve. A semiconductor processing chamber and a method for confining a plasma in an etch chamber having a plurality of confinement rings are provided.

Abstract: A wafer processing device or apparatus, i.e., a heater or an electrostatic chuck, comprises a planar support platen, a support shaft having centrally located bore, and a pair of electrical conductors located in the shaft. In one embodiment, the electrical conductors are concentrically located within the bore of the shaft, with the first electrical lead being in the form of a pyrolytic graphite rod and separated from the outer second graphite electrical lead by means of a pyrolytic boron nitride (pBN) coating. In a second embodiment, the support platen and the support shaft are formed from a single unitary body of graphite. In yet another embodiment of the device of the invention, the connection posts comprise a carbon fiber composite and the exposed ends of the electrical connectors are coated with a protective ceramic paste for extended life in operations.

Abstract: Described are methods of rinsing and processing devices such as semiconductor wafers wherein the device is rinsed with using a surface tension reducing agent; the method may include a subsequent drying step which preferably incorporates the use of a surface tension reducing agent during at least partial drying; and the method may be performed using automated rinsing equipment; also described are automated rinsing apparatuses useful with the method.

Abstract: Substrate cleaning apparatus and method capable of preventing adhesion of particles to a substrate irrespective of being hydrophilic or hydrophobic are provided. Although a cleaning liquid ejected from a two-fluid nozzle 36 rebounds from a cup CP and scatters in the form of mist toward the center side of a wafer W, a rinsing liquid is supplied from a rinse nozzle 35 to form a water film 51 on the wafer W. Owing to the presence of the water film 51, the surface of the wafer W is protected from adhesion of particles contained in the mist. It is possible to prevent the particles in the mist from adhering to the wafer W and also possible to prevent a bad influence on the wafer W.

Abstract: A washout container to which are mounted inclined ramps that allow a transit mixer, concrete pumping truck or other concrete handling vehicle to drive up over a portion of the container for dumping excess concrete and washing out waste concrete. The container cross-section may be rectangular to semi-circular, and is preferably fabricated with a steel structure. A watertight latching door assembly is coupled to the container to prevent leakage of collected liquid concrete waste material while allowing solidified concrete materials to be unloaded at a disposal site. The interior of the container is preferably lined with a material to which concrete will not adhere. The liner may be applied as a coating to the interior of the container or as a solid material retained within the container. In this way, solidified waste concrete can be easily removed from the container at the disposal site and preferably crushed for recycling.

Abstract: A solid material for a magnet, comprising a rare-earth/iron/nitrogen/hydrogen system magnetic material.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing grain-oriented silicon steel with mirror-like surface by applying an aqueous slurry of an annealing separator, magnetic properties are stabilized by controlling the amount of moisture, carried in the annealing separator consisting mainly of alumina after application and drying thereof, to not more than 1.5%, controlling the partial water vapor pressure during finish-annealing and eliminating the variation (instability) in secondary recrystallization caused by the inhibitor reaction at the interface.

Abstract: The present invention provides an Al—Mg—Si alloy sheet in which the production of ridging marks during press forming is noticeably inhibited, and in addition, provides a manufacturing method capable of providing such an aluminum alloy sheet, and an intermediate material in the manufacture thereof. The Al—Mg—Si alloy sheet in accordance with the present invention is characterized by having a prescribed composition, and characterized in that respective textures are present therein with a good balance. Further, in accordance with the manufacturing method, and the intermediate material in the manufacture thereof of the present invention, it is possible to manufacture the alloy with high efficiency.

Abstract: The alloy contains, by weight, at least 95% zirconium and from 0.01 to 0.1% sulphur and, optionally, at least one element from the group consisting of the elements tin, iron, chromium, hafnium, niobium, nickel, oxygen and vanadium, the balance of the alloy consisting of inevitable impurities. The sulphur is present in the alloy in the dissolved state, thereby improving the creep strength and in the form of uniformly distributed fine precipitates, thereby improving the corrosion and hydriding resistance. The alloy may be heated by a solution annealing treatment in the ? phase followed by a quench or by a soak at a temperature below 950° C. in order to transform it into the ? or ?+? phase.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for producing a radiator member for electronic appliances, and is characterized in that, in a process for producing a radiator member for electronic appliances, the radiator member comprising a composite material in which SiC particles are dispersed in a matrix metal whose major component is Al, it comprises a filling step of filling an SiC powder into a mold, a pre-heating step of pre-heating the mold after the filling step to a pre-heating temperature which falls in a range of from a melting point or more of said matrix metal to less than a reaction initiation temperature at which a molten metal of the matrix metal and SiC particles in the SiC powder start to react, and a pouring step of pouring the molten matrix metal whose molten-metal temperature falls in a range of from the melting point or more of the matrix metal to less than the reaction initiation temperature, into the mold after the pre-heating step, and impregnating the SiC powder with the molten metal by pressur

Abstract: A device for fabricating LCD devices includes a base frame, a lower chamber unit on the base frame, an upper chamber unit over the lower chamber unit and moveable over the base frame, chamber moving means for raising/lowering the upper chamber unit, stages within interior spaces of the upper and lower chamber units, wherein substrates are securable to each of the stages, and sealing means on at least one surface of the chamber units for sealing an interior space definable by joined upper and lower chamber units, the substrates being within the sealed interior space. A method for fabricating LCD devices includes loading substrates onto stages, lowering an upper chamber unit to seal an interior space from an external environment, evacuating the sealed interior space, aligning the first and second substrates, contacting the first and second substrates with sealant material, venting the sealed interior space, and unloading the bonded substrates.

Abstract: A tufted carpet includes a primary backing having a back side and a face side, and a secondary backing. The carpet includes tufts of yarn sewn through the primary backing so as to be exposed on the face side and to form a plurality of back stitches on the back side. The yarn of the tufted carpet is a thermoplastic material having a yarn melting point. The secondary backing is a thermoplastic material in the form of a fluid-impervious film or a fabric having a softening temperature that is no lower than the yarn melting point, or a laminate having an inner and an outer layer, in which the outer layer comprises a thermoplastic material having a softening temperature that is no lower than the yarn melting point.

Abstract: The present invention provides a manufacturing method of a pneumatic tire in which a line, a letter or the like having a different color from a main body rubber is formed in a side wall portion. A manufacturing method of a pneumatic tire in which a portion having a different color from a main body rubber is formed in a side wall portion, is provided with a step of forming a band-like rubber member having a white rubber layer having a different color from a main body rubber, and a cover rubber layer formed in an outer side of the white rubber layer at a fixed thickness and having the same color as the main body rubber, and a step of spirally overlapping and winding a rubber ribbon along a tire peripheral direction so as to bond to both sides in a width direction of the band-like rubber member.

Abstract: The present invention was directed to a unique heat transfer material for use in transferring an image-bearing coating onto a substrate, such as an article of clothing. The heat transfer material of the present invention may be used in cold peel transfer processes, resulting in an image-bearing coating having superior washability, compared to conventional image-bearing coatings. Additionally, the materials may be used on dark colored fabrics without graying of the opaque background or dulling of colored images typically associated with printing on darker fabrics. The heat transfer material of the present invention produces superior results due to the addition of crosslinking agents to the coatings.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a friction plate in which a plurality of frictional material segments are adhered to a substantially annular core plate. The method previously registers the frictional material segments to adhesion positions, and presses the core plate to which adhesive agent is applied and the frictional segments to perform temporary adhesion. Further, an apparatus for manufacturing a friction plate in which a plurality of frictional material segments are adhered to a substantially annular core plate. The apparatus comprises a member for registering the frictional material segments while holding the frictional material segments in a state arranged in the adhesion positions.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for the hot dispersing of a paper fiber stock that includes providing an aqueous paper fiber stock and pressing the aqueous fiber stock in a thickening device. In this manner, water is at least partially removed from the aqueous fiber stock to form a highly consistent paper fiber stock. The process further includes heating the highly consistent paper fiber stock, dispersing the heated highly consistent paper fiber stock with a disperser, determining a thermal energy consumed to heat the highly consistent paper fiber stock, and controlling a dewatering effect of the thickening device. The dewatering effect is increased with rising thermal energy consumption and is reduced with a falling thermal energy consumption. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: A method of forming twisted, curly fibers from a wet wood pulp without the aid of a wet fluffing process or a chemical cross-linker. The method includes forming the wet wood pulp into fiber bundles and subsequently thermally drying the fiber bundles. The invention also includes curly fibers derived from the method of the invention.

Abstract: A process for removing silica from nonwood plant materials involving both chemical and mechanical action is described. The silica-rich epidermal cells are liberated mechanically by a pre-pulping and low-consistency refining step and subsequently removed from the pulp via the filtrate of a thickening step. Amorphous silica is liberated chemically by using an alkaline dilution source in the pulper, then removed from the pulp via the filtrate of a thickening step and a dewatering step. The silica is then removed from the filtrate by adjusting the pH, followed by a separation step. The desilicated fibrous material may then be chemically or mechanically pulped and bleached using known processes. The silica removed from the nonwood plant material may then be used as a feedstock for other applications.

Abstract: Process for making paper or paper board comprising, forming an aqueous cellulosic suspension, adding a retention system to the cellulosic suspension, draining the suspension on a screen to form a sheet and drying the sheet, wherein the retention system comprises a swelling clay which has a TAPPI brightness of at least 70.

Abstract: Methods for recycling latex-containing broke are generally provided. Specifically, mechanical treatment may be employed to rework latex-containing broke for reuse in various products without the need for treatment with chemicals, such as hypochlorite, chlorine, or hypochlorous acid. As a result of mechanical treatment, fiber aggregates are formed that have a relatively small size. For instance, a large portion of the resulting fiber aggregates may be relatively free from the latex polymer. Specifically, the fiber aggregates can contain a “core” of latex from which extend short fibers and/or fragments that are uncoated with the latex. The result is fiber aggregates that are uniquely “partially coated” with a latex polymer. When recycled in paper products, these fiber aggregates may impart a variety of benefits, such as increased bulk retention and high water capacity without any loss in absorbency rate.

Abstract: Fibrous stock is supplied by a paper or board machine headbox (1) between looped forming wires (11, 12). Water is removed in a first dewatering zone (Z1) formed with a fixed forming shoe (3) having a curved surface against which a wire (12) is supported while the opposite wire (11) is unsupported in the area of the shoe (3). Water is removed in a second dewatering zone (Z2) formed by fixed dewatering blades (21) on the other side of the wires (11, 12) and supported against the stock therebetween (21) and on the opposite side of the wires (11, 12) by dewatering blades (24), loaded in a controlled manner against the fixed dewatering blades (21) at gaps (22) between these so that pulsating dewatering is caused in the second zone (Z2). The wires (11, 12) are guided so the shoe (3) causes essentially non-pulsating dewatering in the stock.

Abstract: A method of sputter depositing silver selenide and controlling the stoichiometry and nodular defect formations of a sputter deposited silver-selenide film. The method includes depositing silver-selenide using a sputter deposition process at a pressure of about 0.3 mTorr to about 10 mTorr. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, an RF sputter deposition process may be used preferably at pressures of about 2 mTorr to about 3 mTorr. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a pulse DC sputter deposition process may be used preferably at pressures of about 4 mTorr to about 5 mTorr.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved two-layer coating system. The present invention relates to a process for forming a cured gradient coating film, comprising the steps of: applying an aqueous electrodeposition coating composition comprising at least two resins and a curing agent, on an electrically conductive substrate, heating a electrodeposition coating film to form a layer separation, and then, curing the electrodeposition coating film to form a cured gradient coating film; wherein the resins include one resin component constituting a resin layer (a) in direct contact with air before applying top coating and other resin component constituting a resin layer (b) in direct contact with the electrically conductive substrate, and, wherein a solubility parameter (?a) of a resin component A and a solubility parameter (?b) of a resin component B have a specific relationship.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for electrochemically modifying the retention of a species on a chromatography material is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a housing having an effluent flow channel adapted to permit fluid flow therethrough. The effluent flow channel comprises chromatography material. The apparatus further comprises first and second electrodes positioned such that at least a portion of the chromatography material is disposed between the first and second electrodes, and fluid flow through the apparatus is between, and in contact with, the first and second electrodes.

Abstract: A laminated flow device comprises a porous material encapsulated within bonding material. The porous material forms a flow path and the bonding material forms an enclosure surrounding the flow path. Micro-components, such as capillaries, electrodes, reservoirs, bridges, electrokinetic elements, and detectors, can be encapsulated within the device.

Abstract: The invention concerns a metal material with a surface which is modified by bonding an aromatic group, optionally substituted by a functional group, on the surface. In one embodiment, an aromatic group is attached to the surface by electrochemical reduction of a diazonium salt containing the aromatic group. The metal material is brought into contact with a solution of the diazonium salt in a solvent and negatively polarized relative to an anode that is also in contact with the solution. A carbon-metal bond of the covalent type is formed.

Abstract: According to a method of producing a key top for a pushbutton switch of the present invention, a base layer made of an insulating resin that can be plated with metal, an electroless plating layer to be formed on the surface of the base layer, and a polymer coating layer, if required, are stacked on the surface of a key top body. Alternatively, an electroplating layer formed by electroplating is further formed on the electroless plating layer. Therefore, a plating layer can be directly and easily formed on the insulating resin, whereby a key top for a pushbutton switch having a sensation of metal and being rich in design is obtained.

Abstract: The present invention provides an upgraded synthetic gasoline having a true boiling point (TBP) range of between 50° C.-300° C., a sulphur content of less than 1 ppm, a nitrogen content of less than 1 ppm, an aromatics content of between 0.01%-35% by weight, an olefins content of between 0.01%-45%, a benzene content of less than 1.00% by weight, an oxygen content of between 0.5-3.0% by weight, a RON of greater than 80, and a MON of greater than 80. The invention also provides processes for the production of the upgraded synthetic gasoline wherein the synthetic products derived from a Fischer-Tropsch reaction are passed to a cracking reactor to produce a synthetic gasoline stream which is subsequently fractionated and upgraded using an oxygenating reactor, and optionally a combination of an MTBE reactor, a dehydrocyclodimerisation reactor and C5 isomerisation reactor. The upgraded synthetic gasoline is useful as a fuel.

Abstract: A remote control system for providing control of an under-counter water treatment system and garbage disposal. The system includes a remote unit that is electrically connected to an existing switched, under-counter AC power outlet. The garbage disposal and water treatment system are connected to and receive power from the remote unit. The system further includes a control unit that is located above-counter and permits a user to control operation of the remote unit and consequently the garbage disposal and water treatment system. The two units may communicate wirelessly using communication signals that are tagged with a unique security code. In one embodiment, the system includes a microprocessor in each of the control unit and the remote unit, the microprocessor in the remote unit communicating the status of the water treatment system to the control unit and the microprocessor of the control unit appropriately displaying the information.

Abstract: Screening apparatus (101,901) for use at an overflow weir (301, 902) in a sewerage system. The apparatus comprises a continuous moving screen band (201, 902) and a band cleaning mechanism (608). A first portion (801) of the screen band is configured to move along the weir towards one of its ends, and a second portion (803) of the screen band is configured to move along the weir towards its opposite end. A steeper portion (805) of the screen band extends to an elevated position (806) above the first and second portions, and the band cleaning mechanism is arranged to remove solid matter from the screen at said elevated position.

Abstract: A filtration system comprising a plurality of filters (14, 16, 18, 20). Each filter (14, 16, 18, 20) defines a respective filter flowpath extending adjacent a respective filtration medium (24) for tangential filtration by the filtration medium (24) of fluid passing through the filter flowpath.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for a water treatment system that includes both filtration and ultraviolet disinfection elements in a single unit. Various embodiments include a complete treatment system having replaceable filter elements or granular filter media and ultraviolet disinfection within a single vessel. A control valve controls flow through the system in filtering, backwashing, cleaning, and rinsing modes of operation. Other embodiments include couplings that may be adapted to new or existing treatment systems to provide ultraviolet disinfection to a vessel containing replaceable filter elements or granular filter media. The coupling is adapted to receive a control valve assembly that controls flow through the vessel in filtering, backwashing, cleaning, and rinsing modes of operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for injecting a sample into a chromatography system. The apparatus can include a tubular housing having an inner surface and an open end, and a cap coupled to the open end of the tubular housing. The cap can include an aperture therethrough. The apparatus can further include a rod positioned through the aperture in the cap and including a piston at one end. The piston can include an outer edge in contact with the inner surface of the tubular housing. The apparatus can further include a lever coupled to the cap, wherein the lever engages the rod and substantially prevents movement of the rod in a first direction while allowing movement in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction.

Abstract: An affinity ligand-matrix conjugate comprises the matrix and conjugated thereto by the group Z, a ligand having general formula (I): wherein one X is N and the other X is N, CCL or CCn; A1 and A2 are each independently O, S or N—R1 and R1 is H, C1-6 alkyl, C1-6 hydroxyalkyl, benzyl or ?-phenylethyl; B1 and B2 are each independently an optionally substituted hydrocarbon linkage containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms; D1 is H or a primary amino, secondary amino, tertiary amino, quaternary ammonium, imidazole, guanidine or amidino group; and D2 is a secondary amino, tertiary amino, quaternary ammonium, imidazole, guanidine or amidino group; or B2—D2 is —CHCOOH—(CH2)3-4—NH2; and p is 0 or 1. Such conjugates are useful for the separation, isolation, purification, characterization, identification or quantification of an endotoxin.

Abstract: Numerous embodiments of a system and method for treating cardiac tissue are described. In one embodiment, bone marrow cells are extracted from a patient. The cells are then processed to isolate mononuclear cells, which can then be delivered back near the cardiac tissue of the patient.

Abstract: This invention is directed to systems and methods for removing lipids from a fluid or from lipid-containing organisms from a fluid, such as plasma. These systems combine a fluid with at least one extraction solvent, which causes the lipids to separate from the fluid or from the lipid-containing organisms. The separated lipids are removed from the fluid. The at least one extraction solvent is removed from the fluid or at least reduced to a concentration enabling the fluid to be administered to a patient without undesirable consequences. Once the fluid has been processed, the fluid may be administered to a patient who donated the fluid or to a different patient for therapy.

Abstract: A porous polyethylene hollow fiber membrane having a pore-size gradient across the inner and outer surfaces thereof is prepared by introducing, during the cooling step of a melt-spun polyethylene hollow fiber, a nitrogen flow and a solvent having a boiling point in the range of 30 to 80° C. to the inner and outer surfaces of the melt-spun hollow fiber, respectively.

Abstract: A polyamide having an equilibrium water absorption of not more than 10% is used as a main material. As a polyamide having an equilibrium water absorption of not.more than 10%, for example, a polyamide comprising a dicarboxylic acid component comprising 60-100 mol % of terephthalic acid and a diamine component comprising 60-100 mol % of 1,9-nonanediamine and/or 2-methyl-1,8-octanediamine is used. As a result, a porous membrane showing extremely small dimensional change even after a hot water treatment, and particularly useful as a medical separation membrane permitting an AC sterilization treatment and the like is obtained.

Abstract: A mixture of fluids is separated into at least two phases, one of which has a higher density than the other, passing the mixture through a normally horizontal supply pipe, by creating a stratified flow in the supply pipe, by passing the mixture through an inclined pipe, whilse maintaining a stratified flow in the inclined pipe, by extracting fluid with lower density (“lighter phase”) via a first discharge system and fluid with a higher density (“heavier phase”) via a second discharge system, wherein the interface between the lighter phase and the heavier phase is monitored in the inclined pipe by a level controller means that varies the flow of the fluid of higher density to keep the interface between set levels.

Abstract: A scraper adjustment mechanism and method for a filter that permits an operator to adjust the distance between the scraper and a filter surface without the need to have access to the filter/scraper interface, or fasteners within the filter.

Abstract: A filter system for receiving an oil-in-water emulsion contaminated with an emulsified contaminant oil, and separating the emulsified contaminant oil from the oil-in-water emulsion includes a filter media for receiving the oil-in-water emulsion and emulsified contaminant oil, having an inner filter element formed from a 95 percent single pass efficiency 48 micron (5 micron nominal) filtering material of needle punch polypropylene felt, an outer filter element formed from a 95 percent single pass efficiency 19 micron absolute filtering material of a polypropylene microfiber material and a porous spunbond polypropylene sandwiching the outer filter media. The filter element de-emulsifies the emulsified contaminant oil from the oil-in-water emulsion into the contaminant oil and the oil-in-water emulsion, separates the de-emulsified contaminant oil from the oil-in-water emulsion, coalesces the separated contaminant oil and passes both the coalesced de-emulsified contaminant oil and the oil-in-water emulsion.

Abstract: The present processing apparatus blocks off such a portion of a flow of a plating solution (17) that is other than a vicinity of a liquid surface, by using a first partition plate (15) whose lower end is in close contact with a bottom of a plating tank (11) and whose upper end is at a position lower than a liquid surface. Therefore, the plating solution (17) flowing at the bottom of the plating tank (11) flows upwards along the first partition plate (15). At this time, heavy foreign substances do not tend to follow such an upward movement of the plating solution (17), and therefore sink and accumulate in a vicinity of the lower end of the first partition plate (15), so as not to flow into a downstream side of the plate. With this arrangement, the present processing apparatus can remove the heavy foreign substances from the plating solution (17) without relying solely on a filter of a circulation pipe (10).

Abstract: A method of selectively etching a three-layer structure consisting of SiO2, In2O3, and titanium, includes etching the SiO2, stopping at the titanium layer, using C3F8 in a range of between about 10 sccm to 30 sccm; argon in a range of between about 20 sccm to 40 sccm, using an RF source in a range of between about 1000 watts to 3000 watts and an RF bias in a range of between about 400 watts to 800 watts at a pressure in a range of between about 2 mtorr to 6 mtorr; and etching the titanium, stopping at the In2O3 layer, using BCl in a range of between about 10 sccm to 50 sccm; chlorine in a range of between about 40 sccm to 80 sccm, a Tcp in a range of between about 200 watts to 500 watts at an RF bias in a range of between about 100 watts to 200 watts at a pressure in a range of between about 4 mtorr to 8 mtorr.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for making flexible circuits in which portions of a tie layer are removed by etching the underlying polymer. Also disclosed are flexible circuits made by this method.

Abstract: A CMP slurry comprising polishing abrasives containing mixture abrasives of silica and alumina is used. In CMP using the slurry comprising mixture abrasives of silica and alumina as polishing abrasives, a down force-dependency of a polishing rate is high and an increase in dishing can be effectively suppressed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing an amino composition by addition reaction between a polyamine and an unsaturated hydrocarbon compound in the presence of a strongly basic alkali metal catalyst to obtain an amino composition containing not more than 2% by weight of unreacted polyamine and preferably not more than 10 ppm of alkali metal.

Abstract: Stable compositions of calcium hypochlorite containing selected hydrated inorganic salts having a sufficiently high enthalpy and the ability to provide water release to sufficiently quench reactions and reduce the potential for conflagration.

Abstract: To provide a liquid crystalline composition, which can be obtained by mixing a plurality of liquid crystalline compositions each of which can exhibit different liquid crystal phases from one another, being capable of exhibiting a biaxial liquid crystal phase, a liquid crystalline composition contains a liquid crystalline composition R which exhibits a liquid crystal phase having a positive birefringence; and a liquid crystalline composition D which exhibits a liquid crystal phase having a negative birefringence, in which the liquid crystalline composition R comprises a compound having a rectangular plate-like shape.