Dainichiseika Color & Chemicals Mfg. Co., Ltd.

Ebara Corporation

National Aerospace Laboratory, Ebara Research Co., Ltd.

Minoru Takizawa

Michiei Nakamura

Hitoshi Takeuchi

Shojiro Horiguchi

Naomi Oguma

Yoshifumi Sugito

Seiji Doi

Takashi Fukutomi

Sachio Yoshikawa

Tetujiro Takahashi

Takamitsu Shinoda

Yoshitake Kori

Tetsujiro Takahashi

Hiroshi Inoue

Atsushi Nakajima

Shigeru Sakamoto

Yoichi Kanemitsu

Yuji Shirao

Chiaki Iwakura

Chikara Murakami

Naoji Furukawa

Motohisa Maruyama

Satoshi Mizoguchi

Shinji Nohara

Hitoshi Naganuma

A solidifying material for a cell electrolyte solution is a block copolymer, which comprises, as segments A, a polymer non-compatible with the cell electrolyte solution and, as segments B, a polymer compatible with the cell electrolyte solution. The solidifying material absorbs and solidifies the cell electrolyte solution. A smallest unit of the block copolymer is A-B-A. To each of the segments B, at least one group selected from the group consisting of a carboxyl group, an ester group, a hydroxyl group, a sulfonic group, an amino group, a cyclic carbonate group and a polyoxyalkylene group is bonded via a &#x2014;S&#x2014; bond or a &#x2014;C&#x2014; bond.

Solidifying material for cell electrolyte solution, and cell comprising the solidifying material

A high-molecular gelling agent precursor for an electrolyte comprises a copolymer formed of (A) a hydrophobic monomer having a hydrophobic group, which forms a carboxyl group upon saponification, and (B) a hydrophobic polyfunctional monomer. The saponification product of the copolymer has property to gel the electrolyte. A high-molecular gelling agent for the electrolyte is produced by saponifying the precursor with a saponifying agent selected from the group consisting of acids and alkalis while using a reaction medium selected from the group consisting of water and hydrophobic organic solvents.

High-molecular gelling agent precursor for electrolyte

A solidifying material for a cell electrolyte solution is a block copolymer, which comprises, as segments A, a polymer non-compatible with the cell electrolyte solution and, as segments B, a polymer compatible with the cell electrolyte solution. The solidifying material absorbs and solidifies the cell electrolyte solution. A smallest unit of the block copolymer is A-B-A. To each of the segments B, at least one group selected from the group consisting of a carboxyl group, an ester group, a hydroxyl group, a sulfonic group, an amino group, a cyclic carbonate group and a polyoxyalkylene group is bonded via a &mdash;S&mdash; bond or a &mdash;C&mdash; bond.

A charge mosaic membrane having excellent selective permeability comprises a cationic polymer component, an anionic polymer component and a matrix component. Both of the cationic polymer component and the anionic polymer component are crosslinked particulate polymers. The matrix component is at least one polymer selected from a polysulfone resin, a polyarylate resin, a polyamide resin, a polyimide resin, a polyamideimide resin, a polyurethane resin, a fluorinated resin or a silicone resin. The charge mosaic membrane can be easily produced by conducting formation of the membrane by using a composition in which the cationic polymer component and the anionic polymer component are both dispersed in a solution of the matrix component in an organic solvent.

Charge mosaic membrane, its production process, method of its use, and apparatus provided with the same

An ion-selective membrane is formed integrally of an ion-selective membrane forming component and a woven-fabric-shaped backing. The ion-selective membrane forming component comprises a cationic polymer component and/or an anionic polymer component and a matrix component. Each of the ionic polymer components is a particulate polymer having an average particle size in a range of from 0.01 to 10 &mgr;m. The woven-fabric-shaped backing has a meshed structure. The ion-selective membrane can be produced by forming it while maintaining a layer of a coating formulation, in which the ionic polymer component is dispersed in a solution or dispersion of the matrix component in an organic solvent, in close contact with the woven-fabric-shaped backing. The ion-selective membrane is useful for the permeation of an electrolyte. An apparatus provided with the ion-selective membrane is also provided.

Ion-selective membranes, their production process, use of the ion-selective membranes, and apparatuses provided with the ion-selective membranes

A potentially hydrophilic resin comprises at least monomer units readily saponifiable under alkaline conditions to form carboxyl groups, carboxyl-containing monomer units, and hydroxyl-containing monomer units. A potentially hydrophilic resin composition comprises, in a liquid medium, the potentially hydrophilic and an adhesive component or film-forming component. A recycling method is provided for an article with a coating applied on a surface thereof. According to the recycling method, the coating on the surface of the article is formed with the potentially hydrophilic resin composition, and subsequent to use of the article, the article is treated with alkaline water to saponify methyl acrylate in the coating such that the coating is caused to swell, and the coating so swollen is removed from the article.

Potentially hydrophilic resins and compositions comprising the same

A process is disclosed for the production of connected microgel particles. According to the process, starting microgel particles having particle sizes of 100-0.01 .mu.m and a particle size distribution whose standard deviation is not greater than 100% of a mean particle size of the starting microgel particles are dispersed in a matrix component. The starting microgel particles are soaked with a monomer. The monomer is then polymerized, whereby the starting microgels are connected together. Also disclosed is an article comprising a base material and a layer of such connected microgel particles formed on a surface of the base material.

Production process of connected microgel particles and articles treated

A charge mosaic membrane is made of a cationic polymer and an anionic polymer. At least one of the cationic and anionic polymers is in the form of spheres having a diameter of 0.01-10 .mu.m. A process for the production of the charge mosaic membrane is also described.

Charge mosaic membrane and production process thereof

An inductance-type displacement sensor which can measure the displacement of a measured object of magnetic material without any contact with the object. A pair of series connected coils is provided adjacent to the object so that the inductance of the coils varies in response to a displacement of the object from a predetermined position. The inductance, the number of windings, the direction of the windings and the section of each of the cores are so set that the magnetic flux produced by one of the coils runs in a direction opposite to that of the magnetic flux produced by the other coil and the densities of the respective magnetic fluxes are identical with each other.

Inductance-type displacement sensor for eliminating inaccuracies due to

A water swellable resin composition comprises a water swellable resin and a medium such as a plasticizer, solvent, resin or resin solution. The resin is an alkali metal salt and/or hydrophilic amine salt of a copolymer of hydrophobic polymer chains having an .alpha.,.beta.-ethylenically-unsaturated group at end thereof and a monomer composed principally of (meth)acrylic acid.

Water swellable resin composition

A pigment composition contains a pigment and a dispersant. The dispersant is a polyester compound which contains, per molecule, a residuum of at least two benzene rings coupled together, an aromatic ring having at least 8 carbon atoms or a heterocyclic ring having at least 8 carbon atoms, and at least one ester bond as a principal bond.

Pigment composition

A pigment composition contains a pigment and a dispersant. The dispersant is a phosphoric ester compound represented by the following general formula: ##STR1## wherein at least one of the three Rs is a residuum of a polyester chain containing as principal bonds thereof ester bonds of a polycarboxylic acid and a polyalcohol.

There is provided a new phosphoric ester compound represented by the formula below. ##STR1## (where one or more than one of the three R's are hydroxyl-terminated polyester residues obtained by self-polycondensation of a hydroxy-carboxylic acid; and one or two of the three R's, in case of being remained, are hydrogen atoms, cations, or residues of an alcohol excluding the above-mentioned polyesters.)

Phosphoric ester compound

There is provided a new pigment composition composed of a pigment and a dispersant wherein the dispersant is a phosphoric ester compound represented by the formula below. ##STR1## (where one or more than one of the three R's are residues of a hydroxy-carboxylic acid and/or hydroxy ester thereof; and one or two of the three R's, in case of being remained, are hydrogen atoms, cations, or residues of an alcohol excluding the above-mentioned residues.)

There is provided a new pigment composition composed of a pigment and a dispersant wherein the dispersant is a phosphoric ester compound represented by the formula below. ##STR1## (where one or more than one of the three R's are hydroxyl-terminated polyester residues obtained by self-polycondensation of a hydroxy-carboxylic acid; and one or two of the three R's, in case of being remained, are hydrogen atoms, cations, or residues of an alcohol excluding the above-mentioned polyesters.)

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Tokyo, Japan

Minoru Takizawa